Hey again. It's just me, X, ready to rant and rave about the goings on in my poker life. I hope everybody had a Happy Thanksgiving, because I sure did. Anyways, since it was a long weekend, Greg decided to graciously open his garage yesterday and hold a poker tournament. Being a sucker for a good poker game, I decided to join in on the fun. The buy in was $20, with unlimited rebuys for the first hour and twenty minutes. I came into the game with a plan, last with my original stack until after the rebuy period and make my move when I get cards. Here is how it went...
First off, when I got seated, I though my table would be the more reserved, less aggressive table. The table had Greg, Jack, Andy and Elaine, who are more laid back when it comes to their play. Then there were Jim, Leo, Ryan and myself who aren't the straight forward, ABC type. I'm not really crazy, but I'm also not a conservative player. I have been known to take risks. So it was an interesting table and the only question was who would break the mold and go crazy.
That question was answered quite emphatically when Ryan pushed all in on the second hand. I was in the BB and I picked up Ah - Jh. I wasn't thrilled with the hand. I mean A - J suited is a pretty good hand to see a flop with, but I get wary raising with it and I hate calling an all in with it. I don't know why, it's just that hand has never really won for me. Even considering all that, I still pondered calling. That is until Greg in the SB called Ryan's all in. That made my decision a lot more difficult. I really wasn't caught up with what Ryan had, because he could've honestly had anything. The call by Greg was a little more troubling for a couple of reasons. I knew Ryan had a strategy in regard to rebuy tournaments and he had done this before in similar tournaments. He'd push all in with any two cards and he'd either steal the blinds, get called and hit his cards and win the pot, or bust out and rebuy. It's not a bad strategy, I just don't think much of it, but that is beside the point. I have a decent hand and both Ryan and Greg (a conservative player as I mentioned) are playing for all of their chips. The trouble is Greg's call... I mean what could he have?! Pocket queens, pocket 10's, A - Q, A - K, pocket kings. You just don't know, and I couldn't really see getting into an all in pot knowing or even thinking Greg could have all of these hands. I folded after a little while of posturing. If Greg had folded I maybe would have called, I'm not sure. I may have made a bad fold considering it was so early to play a hand for all of my chips. When both Greg and Ryan flipped, I was kind of relieved and a little taken back as well. Ryan right on cue didn't much, K - 2 offsuit to be precise. Greg had As - Js, which was honestly not one of the hands I thought he had. I kicked myself preflop knowing that I probably in all estimation threw away half of Ryan's chips. That was until the I saw the flop, it was 2h - Qc - 4d. The turn was a 5c and the river was a 7d. Ryan won the pot with his pair of deuces. Sad, ain't it? I felt bad for Greg, I threw away two of the eight cards he needed. I also felt bad becuase K - 2 offsuit wasn't worthy of an all in play. At least not preflop, but hey, Ryan's strategy worked out.
After that, chips went back and forth between Ryan and Greg. Greg started hitting hands left and right, including a couple off of yours truly. After about forty minutes I found myslef shortstacked with about $1100 in chips. The blinds had just gone up and the play wasn't slowing down at our table either. I payed a hand against Jack that I don't normally play in early position, K - Q offsuit. The flop was Jd - 9c - 4s and I led out with a $400 bet, and Jack responded by going all in. Now I don't normally chase draws, but I had over a quarter of my stack invested in the pot and I was going to either win or rebuy so I called. Jack had me covered by a good thousand or so. We turned over our cards and he had Ad - Jh. The turn came Qc giving me top pair, and the river was the 7c. I admit it, it was a suckout, but I have been sucked out on a lot worse. I took a huge pot and was healthy again.
A little later in the game I played an all in pot against Leo when I had A - K suited. I pretty much played the hand as best as I possibly could have. I slow played my top pair of aces on the flop by check-calling a bet by Leo. When a club flush draw came up on the turn, I checked into Leo again only to have him bet again. I pushed all in and was called by Leo with his 9 - 7. A five came on the river and I took another good pot.
I ended up making it to the final table and surviving being card dead yet again with a few key double ups. I made it all the way to 3rd place, making $70. Not bad at all in my opinion. Coupled with the night I had at Kurt's and that's a damn good week. Kurt and I had come in with a plan of playing tight and surviving the rebuy period and turning on the afterburners. Kurt finished 4th so our plan worked out to perfection.
I don't really have any more to say, so I'll post again when I do. Later
X
Monday, November 27, 2006
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Finally, a great night for me!
Hello again, it's once again time for your nonstop poker fix. Well, where should I begin? I'll begin with the fact that I kicked ass last night!!! In the first game, I did alright and ended up finishing in 6th place. I could've done better, but I made one mistake in not calling a hand and I got sucked out on by George in another. The second I could've won had I not gone card dead when we got three handed. But hey those are the breaks. I'll go a little more in depth...
The first game, I got seated at a very tough table with the likes of Jim, Ryan, Bill, Jack and Scott. Although Jim only lasted one hand, the table was still very tough. I didn't catch any cards during the first round of blinds. When the blinds went up, I got dealt Ah - Jh and raised it to $80 not realizing that the blinds had gone up. Amazingly that minimum raise did the trick and everybody dumped their cards. After that, it was more mediocrity. I think I got dealt 8 - 2 offsuit like a hundred times last night. I made one good read on Ryan and took some chips from him. I had told Bill I had a plan of action against Ryan for last night's games. Now I won't say specifically what that plan was, but it did work out a couple of times in my favor. I didn't start getting good cards until the table merge. I was riding high for a while but when we got to the final table, I played like a little girl. I played conservative at the onset because I wanted to gain a couple of spots before trying to make a move. I do this a lot when it gets to final tables and it always ends up bad for me. There was a hand where I was the big blind and someone moved all in and was called by the small blind. I had enough to call easily and when I looked over at the small blinds' stack, he had about $300 or so left. It would've cost me about $1800 dollars more to possibly knock two players out. I had Qc - 9c and I was getting about 2 and a half on my money. The only problem was I HATE PLAYING Q - 9 suited. I ended up folding like a little bitch and I would've won the pot. A couple of hands later, George and I were in a hand. I had Qc - 8h and I limped in from the small blind. George was in the big blind and he checked. The flop came up Qh - 7c - 4h. I had top pair and I bet $1200 and George called. I pretty much knew what he had, it was obvious, at least to me, that he was on the flush draw. The turn came up Kh and now there were three to a flush and an overcard on the board. I checked and George bet $1500 and I folded. Even if he didn't have the flush he probably had the king and I was beat either way. A few hands later I bet into Greg who picked up KK in the big blind and played a pot with AJ suited for all but $600 of my chips. Of course nothing came up to help and I was short stacked. I ended up going out after George eliminated both Bob and I in the same hand with big slick.
The second tournament started a lot like the first. No cards, decent cards I'd call but miss the flop or hit mid pair and I'd see bet raise re-raise. I ended up taking a couple of decent pots from Karl and Elaine, and I butsed Paul with a set of queens. From then on I steamrolled the table and came into the final table as one of the chip leaders. We got to the final table with 10 people still left. There were a lot of average stacks, three or four big stacks and two short stacks. The only problem was for the longest time, close to an hour, no one dropped. We played ten handed for nearly an hour before someone got eliminated. It stayed eight handed for a while after that. Everyone didn't want to make a move because everyone wanted points. Not a bad idea considering that there is only 2 weeks left this year to get points. Gradually people started dropping and it came down to three people, Kurt, Henry, and myself. From then on, I was pretty much card dead. It was absolutely infuriating. I mean hands like 6 - 3 offsuit, 8 - 2 offsuit, 7 - 2 offsuit, 4 - 2 offsuit. It was all variations of those hands and nothing else. Then I finally picked up a pocket pair in the big blind. I had pocket 10's and I was last to act preflop. Henry who was first to act goes all in for about $1500 and Kurt calls. At that point, what do you do? Do I call and risk all my chips with a decent hand knowing that both have at least an ace and probably another overcard? Do I fold and possibly fold away the best hand I had seen in an hour? Do I fold to only see a 10 on the flop? It was agonizing thinking about it, but I finally ended up folding. I was relieved to see Henry turn over pocket aces. Just as I had suspected, Kurt had an ace, but with a weak kicker. I pretty much read that hand as perfect as I think anyone could've. It's weird how sometimes I just catch a vibe from the body language from a certain player. It's kind of like rainman but not as weird, if that makes any sense. Well Henry won the hand but went out a short time later. When Kurt and I got to heads up, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Kurt was going to win, I pushed all in with two live cards and was promptly trounced when Kurt flopped a set of kings.
I must say last night was a terrific night and it certainly made up for a few weeks ago. I jumped in points as well, leap frogging both Karl and George and tying Jim. I am happy with the points and the money, I only wished I could've won. I came oh so close last night, but I can't complain. Alright that's it for me. Y'all have a happy turkey day!
X
The first game, I got seated at a very tough table with the likes of Jim, Ryan, Bill, Jack and Scott. Although Jim only lasted one hand, the table was still very tough. I didn't catch any cards during the first round of blinds. When the blinds went up, I got dealt Ah - Jh and raised it to $80 not realizing that the blinds had gone up. Amazingly that minimum raise did the trick and everybody dumped their cards. After that, it was more mediocrity. I think I got dealt 8 - 2 offsuit like a hundred times last night. I made one good read on Ryan and took some chips from him. I had told Bill I had a plan of action against Ryan for last night's games. Now I won't say specifically what that plan was, but it did work out a couple of times in my favor. I didn't start getting good cards until the table merge. I was riding high for a while but when we got to the final table, I played like a little girl. I played conservative at the onset because I wanted to gain a couple of spots before trying to make a move. I do this a lot when it gets to final tables and it always ends up bad for me. There was a hand where I was the big blind and someone moved all in and was called by the small blind. I had enough to call easily and when I looked over at the small blinds' stack, he had about $300 or so left. It would've cost me about $1800 dollars more to possibly knock two players out. I had Qc - 9c and I was getting about 2 and a half on my money. The only problem was I HATE PLAYING Q - 9 suited. I ended up folding like a little bitch and I would've won the pot. A couple of hands later, George and I were in a hand. I had Qc - 8h and I limped in from the small blind. George was in the big blind and he checked. The flop came up Qh - 7c - 4h. I had top pair and I bet $1200 and George called. I pretty much knew what he had, it was obvious, at least to me, that he was on the flush draw. The turn came up Kh and now there were three to a flush and an overcard on the board. I checked and George bet $1500 and I folded. Even if he didn't have the flush he probably had the king and I was beat either way. A few hands later I bet into Greg who picked up KK in the big blind and played a pot with AJ suited for all but $600 of my chips. Of course nothing came up to help and I was short stacked. I ended up going out after George eliminated both Bob and I in the same hand with big slick.
The second tournament started a lot like the first. No cards, decent cards I'd call but miss the flop or hit mid pair and I'd see bet raise re-raise. I ended up taking a couple of decent pots from Karl and Elaine, and I butsed Paul with a set of queens. From then on I steamrolled the table and came into the final table as one of the chip leaders. We got to the final table with 10 people still left. There were a lot of average stacks, three or four big stacks and two short stacks. The only problem was for the longest time, close to an hour, no one dropped. We played ten handed for nearly an hour before someone got eliminated. It stayed eight handed for a while after that. Everyone didn't want to make a move because everyone wanted points. Not a bad idea considering that there is only 2 weeks left this year to get points. Gradually people started dropping and it came down to three people, Kurt, Henry, and myself. From then on, I was pretty much card dead. It was absolutely infuriating. I mean hands like 6 - 3 offsuit, 8 - 2 offsuit, 7 - 2 offsuit, 4 - 2 offsuit. It was all variations of those hands and nothing else. Then I finally picked up a pocket pair in the big blind. I had pocket 10's and I was last to act preflop. Henry who was first to act goes all in for about $1500 and Kurt calls. At that point, what do you do? Do I call and risk all my chips with a decent hand knowing that both have at least an ace and probably another overcard? Do I fold and possibly fold away the best hand I had seen in an hour? Do I fold to only see a 10 on the flop? It was agonizing thinking about it, but I finally ended up folding. I was relieved to see Henry turn over pocket aces. Just as I had suspected, Kurt had an ace, but with a weak kicker. I pretty much read that hand as perfect as I think anyone could've. It's weird how sometimes I just catch a vibe from the body language from a certain player. It's kind of like rainman but not as weird, if that makes any sense. Well Henry won the hand but went out a short time later. When Kurt and I got to heads up, it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that Kurt was going to win, I pushed all in with two live cards and was promptly trounced when Kurt flopped a set of kings.
I must say last night was a terrific night and it certainly made up for a few weeks ago. I jumped in points as well, leap frogging both Karl and George and tying Jim. I am happy with the points and the money, I only wished I could've won. I came oh so close last night, but I can't complain. Alright that's it for me. Y'all have a happy turkey day!
X
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Welcome back X...
Wow, it's been a really long time since I've posted. There's quite a lot of stuff to catch y'all up on. Let's not delay the fun anymore and get right to it...
First off, I am not going on the Veteran's Day Atlantic City trip as I had planned on. This is for a variety of reasons. Lack of planning on my part, lack of money due to bills, lack of attentiveness on my part. It does suck because I was really looking forward to going. I had been planning on this trip since the early summer. Oh well, I am planning on going to Atlantic City this February with Bill and whoever else wants to go with us.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this in previous blogs but recently Bill and I have started playing in the Eastern Poker Tour. I had a couple of good nights, best of which was a second place in which I won a 8 day, 7 night vacation. I haven't been there in a while, but I do plan on going this upcoming week. Bill has done well also, he won a vacation too and has had a couple of final table appearances.
As far as Kurt's goes, I've been doing alright. A few weeks I had good night, but last week I had a bagel. I'm still looking for my first win, but I am pretty much resigned to my fate of being in the bottom five. My horrible year will come to a merciful end in a few weeks. I am totally disappointed with my play this past year. The times I needed to make moves, I didn't. The times I needed to sit back and wait, I overplayed my hands and got over-aggressive. This past week during the second game, I got really annoyed with my play. That was the first time I've been on tilt in a while. Why you ask? I don't really know. I had a decent chip stack early but I ended up chasing a lot of hands that I shouldn't have. And for some weird reason, Ryan's play really pissed me off. He was raising with junk and I would call but be in bad position and completely miss my flop. He would in turn bet and I'd lay my hand down like a little bitch. The worst part is I'd know I had a better hand than he did, but I wouldn't bet it to save my life. A couple of times I pondered going all in over the top of him, but being the little bitch I am, I didn't and I let him run right over me. I was so pissed at the way I played that I didn't say a word for the rest of the night in regards to poker. I played so friggin' bad that I had deserved to lose. Words couldn't express my frustration. I wasn't sulking, it's just that I had made so much progress with my game to play that way felt like regressing back to the old way I played. All the work I had put in, all the discipline I had showed, to play the way I did was to take a huge step backwards. Needless to say, I haven't played poker since and I'm glad I didn't go to Atlantic City. The way I've been playing, they would have stolen everything including the shirt off my back. I'm sure I'll play better next week at Kurt's, I have no doubt about that.
Anyways, that's about it for now. I'll post if there's anything new to say. Have a nice Veteran's Day everybody!
X
First off, I am not going on the Veteran's Day Atlantic City trip as I had planned on. This is for a variety of reasons. Lack of planning on my part, lack of money due to bills, lack of attentiveness on my part. It does suck because I was really looking forward to going. I had been planning on this trip since the early summer. Oh well, I am planning on going to Atlantic City this February with Bill and whoever else wants to go with us.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this in previous blogs but recently Bill and I have started playing in the Eastern Poker Tour. I had a couple of good nights, best of which was a second place in which I won a 8 day, 7 night vacation. I haven't been there in a while, but I do plan on going this upcoming week. Bill has done well also, he won a vacation too and has had a couple of final table appearances.
As far as Kurt's goes, I've been doing alright. A few weeks I had good night, but last week I had a bagel. I'm still looking for my first win, but I am pretty much resigned to my fate of being in the bottom five. My horrible year will come to a merciful end in a few weeks. I am totally disappointed with my play this past year. The times I needed to make moves, I didn't. The times I needed to sit back and wait, I overplayed my hands and got over-aggressive. This past week during the second game, I got really annoyed with my play. That was the first time I've been on tilt in a while. Why you ask? I don't really know. I had a decent chip stack early but I ended up chasing a lot of hands that I shouldn't have. And for some weird reason, Ryan's play really pissed me off. He was raising with junk and I would call but be in bad position and completely miss my flop. He would in turn bet and I'd lay my hand down like a little bitch. The worst part is I'd know I had a better hand than he did, but I wouldn't bet it to save my life. A couple of times I pondered going all in over the top of him, but being the little bitch I am, I didn't and I let him run right over me. I was so pissed at the way I played that I didn't say a word for the rest of the night in regards to poker. I played so friggin' bad that I had deserved to lose. Words couldn't express my frustration. I wasn't sulking, it's just that I had made so much progress with my game to play that way felt like regressing back to the old way I played. All the work I had put in, all the discipline I had showed, to play the way I did was to take a huge step backwards. Needless to say, I haven't played poker since and I'm glad I didn't go to Atlantic City. The way I've been playing, they would have stolen everything including the shirt off my back. I'm sure I'll play better next week at Kurt's, I have no doubt about that.
Anyways, that's about it for now. I'll post if there's anything new to say. Have a nice Veteran's Day everybody!
X
Monday, October 09, 2006
The poker gods must be angry at me...
Hello all, I hope everybody enjoyed their Columbus Day. I know I sure as hell didn't. At least, I didn't enjoy most of it. For those of you who don't know, and for some that do and forgot, Kurt hosted a "high stakes" game at Greg's house today. 13 people showed up, including yours truly, for a $50 buy in event. This wasn't really "high stakes", but it is as high as we're comfortable going in a friendly format. I felt like today was going to be a good day, at least somewhat of a good day. The sun was shining, kids were playing in the street, and the cards were ready to fly. In my opinion there was no better way to celebrate Columbus Day, than by playing poker with some buddies. Here is how it went...
My table was pretty well stocked with talent. On my right I had Jim, John P. was to my left aong with Moe. Kurt was in mid position and Greg and Elaine rounded out the table. From the first hand I knew the table was going to be aggressive. And sure enough, it was. The first hand Kurt and John P. got into a big pot, John P. took the pot down and Kurt was short stacked. The next hand I got dealt pocket A's. I was under the gun and I raised it to $80. I immediately thought I had overbet them for sure. As I saw the table fold around I couldn't help but think it was a missed opportunity. I was just about ready to rake in the blinds when Jim called from the big blind. I dodged a bullet there, thank god Jim called, at least I was going to get $80. It was just Jim and I going to the flop and it came 5h - 7c - As. Jim was first to act and he led out and bet $60. I postured for a few seconds and called. The turn came up 3d and Jim led out again, this time betting $160. I postured a little longer this time and wondered what he possibly could have. Ace with a crappy kicker? A - 5 maybe? Either way I had him crushed, it was just a matter of how much I was going to extract from him. I called his $160 bet and the river came up 8h. Good, I thought, no flush, there was an off chance of a straight but not likely. Jim checked as I pretty much thought he would. I bet $350 and he sat and thought for a bit. To my surprise, he called my bet. He showed a three from his hand and took one look at my trip aces and mucked. After that hand, I thought things were going to go well for me. A short time later I got dealt pocket 6's. The pot had been raised to $60 by Greg and both Jim and I had called. Well the flop came 7d - 6d - Qs. Greg led out and bet $60 and Jim immediately raised it to $180. I sat there for a second and asked myself who I'd rather play heads up against with a set. I knew I HAD to raise it, but how much and who had what. As far as Jim went, I put him on top pair with a decent kicker. Q - J or K - Q or maybe even A - Q, so I wasn't concerned with what he had. Greg on the other hand, had at least an ace to make that bet, but a flush draw was also a very strong possibilty. I raised it to $400 to go and was called by Greg very quickly. Now Jim was perplexed and not happy about being raised and called by two different people. I'm sure the thought of calling went through his mind more than once, but in the end he ended up folding. It was just Greg and I heading to the turn, which came up 8d. Greg went all in almost instantaneously, putting me in a very hard position. I actually thought he had a flush draw to begin with, probably the nut flush draw. So when the 8d came up, it could've completed his flush. Another possibility was that he was on a straight draw. But calling my $400 bet with 10 - 9 would have been very loose and certainly not in Greg's nature. I almost knew at this point Greg had hit his flush. So now, I looked at my outs if I were to call. First off, to win outright I had to have either the board to pair, (8, 7, or Q), or I needed to hit the case 6. Counting my outs I had about 9 or 10 depending on what Jim had folded, (I had found out later it was a Q he had folded). I know Greg and he is not the type of player to bluff at a pot with all of his chips. I looked at the pot to see if I was getting the right price to call. I was getting a little more than 2 to 1 on my money, which wasn't a good ratio to call. I ended up folding my set and I flipped them up to show Greg and the rest of the table what I had laid down. Greg in turn showed his hand to the table as well. I was right, he had Ad - 5d and had hit the nut flush on the turn. I asked Kurt who was dealing to flip the river card. He flipped over the last 6 in the deck which would've given me quad 6's and the win. If I had called, I would've been the chip leader and knocked out Greg at the same time. Needless to say, that put me on tilt for a little while. I ended up finishing 11th or something like that. I got knocked out trying to bluff Jim out of a substantial pot. Jim made a pretty sick call, a call I challenge anyone to make in that position. Whatever, who am I to judge, I've made some bad calls too.
So there you have it, the massive Columbus Day failure. I played well and did a lot of things right. It's just that most of what I did didn't go my way. I got caught making a move on Jim. I give him credit, I don't think anyone would've aside from him that would have called in his spot. Oh well, that's poker and I suck at it.
My table was pretty well stocked with talent. On my right I had Jim, John P. was to my left aong with Moe. Kurt was in mid position and Greg and Elaine rounded out the table. From the first hand I knew the table was going to be aggressive. And sure enough, it was. The first hand Kurt and John P. got into a big pot, John P. took the pot down and Kurt was short stacked. The next hand I got dealt pocket A's. I was under the gun and I raised it to $80. I immediately thought I had overbet them for sure. As I saw the table fold around I couldn't help but think it was a missed opportunity. I was just about ready to rake in the blinds when Jim called from the big blind. I dodged a bullet there, thank god Jim called, at least I was going to get $80. It was just Jim and I going to the flop and it came 5h - 7c - As. Jim was first to act and he led out and bet $60. I postured for a few seconds and called. The turn came up 3d and Jim led out again, this time betting $160. I postured a little longer this time and wondered what he possibly could have. Ace with a crappy kicker? A - 5 maybe? Either way I had him crushed, it was just a matter of how much I was going to extract from him. I called his $160 bet and the river came up 8h. Good, I thought, no flush, there was an off chance of a straight but not likely. Jim checked as I pretty much thought he would. I bet $350 and he sat and thought for a bit. To my surprise, he called my bet. He showed a three from his hand and took one look at my trip aces and mucked. After that hand, I thought things were going to go well for me. A short time later I got dealt pocket 6's. The pot had been raised to $60 by Greg and both Jim and I had called. Well the flop came 7d - 6d - Qs. Greg led out and bet $60 and Jim immediately raised it to $180. I sat there for a second and asked myself who I'd rather play heads up against with a set. I knew I HAD to raise it, but how much and who had what. As far as Jim went, I put him on top pair with a decent kicker. Q - J or K - Q or maybe even A - Q, so I wasn't concerned with what he had. Greg on the other hand, had at least an ace to make that bet, but a flush draw was also a very strong possibilty. I raised it to $400 to go and was called by Greg very quickly. Now Jim was perplexed and not happy about being raised and called by two different people. I'm sure the thought of calling went through his mind more than once, but in the end he ended up folding. It was just Greg and I heading to the turn, which came up 8d. Greg went all in almost instantaneously, putting me in a very hard position. I actually thought he had a flush draw to begin with, probably the nut flush draw. So when the 8d came up, it could've completed his flush. Another possibility was that he was on a straight draw. But calling my $400 bet with 10 - 9 would have been very loose and certainly not in Greg's nature. I almost knew at this point Greg had hit his flush. So now, I looked at my outs if I were to call. First off, to win outright I had to have either the board to pair, (8, 7, or Q), or I needed to hit the case 6. Counting my outs I had about 9 or 10 depending on what Jim had folded, (I had found out later it was a Q he had folded). I know Greg and he is not the type of player to bluff at a pot with all of his chips. I looked at the pot to see if I was getting the right price to call. I was getting a little more than 2 to 1 on my money, which wasn't a good ratio to call. I ended up folding my set and I flipped them up to show Greg and the rest of the table what I had laid down. Greg in turn showed his hand to the table as well. I was right, he had Ad - 5d and had hit the nut flush on the turn. I asked Kurt who was dealing to flip the river card. He flipped over the last 6 in the deck which would've given me quad 6's and the win. If I had called, I would've been the chip leader and knocked out Greg at the same time. Needless to say, that put me on tilt for a little while. I ended up finishing 11th or something like that. I got knocked out trying to bluff Jim out of a substantial pot. Jim made a pretty sick call, a call I challenge anyone to make in that position. Whatever, who am I to judge, I've made some bad calls too.
So there you have it, the massive Columbus Day failure. I played well and did a lot of things right. It's just that most of what I did didn't go my way. I got caught making a move on Jim. I give him credit, I don't think anyone would've aside from him that would have called in his spot. Oh well, that's poker and I suck at it.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
5th, not to shabby...
It's blog time once again, peoples. I'm back and I've got some more juicy poker stuff for you to wrap your heads around. Pull up a chair, grab some popcorn, and hit the lights 'cause here we go...
Like I posted in a blog last week, I took last Friday off from Jim's. I needed to just get away from poker for at least a week. Anyways, I enjoyed not concerning myself with poker for one Friday. Playing every week was taxing my mind to the breaking point. So a break was much needed. Needless to say, I was ready and amped for Kurt's this past Friday.
The first game started out alright, not great, but alright. I was sitting at a decent table, a good mix of aggressive and laid back players. It was freezing outside and it didn't help that we were in the garage. Anyways, I was quiet for most of the first coulpe rounds, I won some pots and stole some as well. I had a big hand with Moe, where I ended up crippling him. Here's how it went...
I was in middle position and the blinds were $40 - $80. I got dealt pocket 7's. I just wanted to see a cheap flop and I just called. Moe who was directly to my left raised it to $300. Everybody folded back around to me. I thought for a little bit and called. The flop came up 10d - 5s - 7c. I hit my set and I knew Moe would bet at it at, so I checked with the intention of coming over the top if Moe bet. I was right, Moe lead out and bet $500. I went all in without really counting my chips. It ended up that I had about $340 more, and Moe was pretty much priced into calling. He had pocket J's. The turn came up 10h, giving me a full house, 7's over 10's. Moe could still win if a 10 or jack came up. The river was a 3c and I took a pretty big pot. After that I was up and down throughout the game. I got to the final table severly short stacked. The only saving grace was that I had a little more than 2 rounds of blinds left in my stack and the button was half way across the table, so I knew I had some time to catch at least some decent cards. It was going to be at least four hands before I had to think about acting and another two hands there after before I was blinded out. Lucky for me, it was an aggressive table and people started making moves early. I ended up finishing in 5th place, not bad considering I barely hung on for most of that game.
The second game was a different story. I lasted only one hand before hitting the rail. I had Qs - Jc. I was in middle position and I just limped in. Steve was the small blind and just called and Paul was the big blind and he checked. The flop came 4c - Qh - 4d. Steve checked, Paul checked, and then it was up to me. The pot had $60 in it, and I led out and bet $80. Steve raisedme to $150. Paul folded and it was back on me. I raised it to $300 and Steve went all in. I messed up and I really didn't think to hard about it and I called pretty quickly. He turned up pocket A's and I was pretty much toast. I was the first one out of the second game.
I know I should have taken some more time to think about what he had, but I don't think it was all that bad of a call. After all, I did have top pair with a pretty good kicker. He only had me beat if he had kings, aces, a four, or a queen with a higher kicker. All in all, it was still a good night, and I got some points to help my cause. At least I'm not dead last anymore. Tomorrow Kurt is hosting a "high stakes" game at his house. I ,of course, will be in attendance. Wish me luck. Until next time everybody, later!
X
Like I posted in a blog last week, I took last Friday off from Jim's. I needed to just get away from poker for at least a week. Anyways, I enjoyed not concerning myself with poker for one Friday. Playing every week was taxing my mind to the breaking point. So a break was much needed. Needless to say, I was ready and amped for Kurt's this past Friday.
The first game started out alright, not great, but alright. I was sitting at a decent table, a good mix of aggressive and laid back players. It was freezing outside and it didn't help that we were in the garage. Anyways, I was quiet for most of the first coulpe rounds, I won some pots and stole some as well. I had a big hand with Moe, where I ended up crippling him. Here's how it went...
I was in middle position and the blinds were $40 - $80. I got dealt pocket 7's. I just wanted to see a cheap flop and I just called. Moe who was directly to my left raised it to $300. Everybody folded back around to me. I thought for a little bit and called. The flop came up 10d - 5s - 7c. I hit my set and I knew Moe would bet at it at, so I checked with the intention of coming over the top if Moe bet. I was right, Moe lead out and bet $500. I went all in without really counting my chips. It ended up that I had about $340 more, and Moe was pretty much priced into calling. He had pocket J's. The turn came up 10h, giving me a full house, 7's over 10's. Moe could still win if a 10 or jack came up. The river was a 3c and I took a pretty big pot. After that I was up and down throughout the game. I got to the final table severly short stacked. The only saving grace was that I had a little more than 2 rounds of blinds left in my stack and the button was half way across the table, so I knew I had some time to catch at least some decent cards. It was going to be at least four hands before I had to think about acting and another two hands there after before I was blinded out. Lucky for me, it was an aggressive table and people started making moves early. I ended up finishing in 5th place, not bad considering I barely hung on for most of that game.
The second game was a different story. I lasted only one hand before hitting the rail. I had Qs - Jc. I was in middle position and I just limped in. Steve was the small blind and just called and Paul was the big blind and he checked. The flop came 4c - Qh - 4d. Steve checked, Paul checked, and then it was up to me. The pot had $60 in it, and I led out and bet $80. Steve raisedme to $150. Paul folded and it was back on me. I raised it to $300 and Steve went all in. I messed up and I really didn't think to hard about it and I called pretty quickly. He turned up pocket A's and I was pretty much toast. I was the first one out of the second game.
I know I should have taken some more time to think about what he had, but I don't think it was all that bad of a call. After all, I did have top pair with a pretty good kicker. He only had me beat if he had kings, aces, a four, or a queen with a higher kicker. All in all, it was still a good night, and I got some points to help my cause. At least I'm not dead last anymore. Tomorrow Kurt is hosting a "high stakes" game at his house. I ,of course, will be in attendance. Wish me luck. Until next time everybody, later!
X
Friday, September 29, 2006
A much needed break, thoughts on the WSOP Main Event, misc. junk...
Hey all, welcome back to your poker fix. It's been a little while since I last posted so I wanted to catch everybody up on the goings on in my life. Both on and off from the poker table. Without any further ado, the blog...
After a long decision, I finally decided yesterday to not attend tonight's off-Friday poker game. Nothing against the game, because I do like the format, I just needed to get my mind off competetive poker for a least one week. Playing every week is not only grueling on your mind, but your wallet as well. And we all pretty much know my bankroll is non-existent at the moment, so I am using my all purpose money to feed the demon that has become my poker obsession. Ok, so maybe it isn't that drastic at this point, but I still needed a break. Constantly playing, no matter how high the stakes are, is tough on your mind and taxing on you physically and mentally. A lot of times when you sit down to play, you have a bad beat you're still thinking about in the back of your mind. Sometimes, you're lucky enough to a point where it doesn't change the way you play. More often than not, especially when you're playing the same players over and over again, you play differently against the player who laid that beat on you. You try to overcompensate in a hand so that he / she doesn't suck out on you again, and you end up hurting your game because of it. If you played against a different group, I guess it would be different, who knows. All I know is that playing the same players every week, wears you down. I think I was at that point a few weeks ago, and it really hurt my game. I was playing mediocre hands against a mediocre player and getting beat by raggy flops. I thought to myself, "ok, X, you've got to open up your game otherwise you'll end up blinding yourself out." And that is true to a certain extent. I was limiting myself to only the very best hands. That's fine, but when you do play a hand, you usually get beaten by vastly inferior hands or the absolute nuts. The problem is you don't really know what you're up against and it is harder to fold say A - K whent the board reads A - Q - 10. This particular situation happened to me and the player I was up against had pocket A's and had flopped a set. Now I'm drawing to any one of the remaining jacks in the deck. There just happened to be three jacks left in the deck, as one was folded. But this was the thing that kept happening to me constantly over the period of several months. I wouldn't fold the hand and end up going broke. Last week at Kurt's, I opened my game up a little and it did pay dividends. There are some situations that I know what to do, it's just whether I have the stomach to do it. I find it really hard to revert back to my previous style knowing what I know now. I can't play like I used to, so instead I need to find newer and, better yet, more effective ways of changing up my game. I do change my game up well, I think. I personally think it is hard to put me on a hand most of the time. I don't bluff a whole heck of a lot, but when I do, it's usally effective. I generally do it to the tighter players who don't like getting involved with average hands. At this point, I definitely think I am a decent player who has good instincts. I just have to follow my instincts and not let bad beats get to me. I still have a lot of work to do until I reach my goal, but I think for a guy who three years ago didn't know a damn thing about poker, I've done a pretty good job.
Anyways, the WSOP Main Event just finished up being televised on ESPN. It actually had ended in mid-August. For poker players who take the game seriously, this is the mecca of poker. I think around 8,500 people showed up this year. Back in 2000, three hundred or so players showed up. It's really amazing how poker has grown over the course of six years. This year's Main Event winner, Jamie Gold, took home $12 million for his efforts. Actually, I should correct that. There is litigation going on currently between Jamie Gold and another player who said that Gold would split the winnings with him if he won. If his complaint is upheld, Gold would only get $6 million. It's sad that it has gone this far. Hopefully, this ugly situation won't permanently marr the way the WSOP and Harrah's does business.
Ok, I think I've done enough blogging for one day. I'll blog again when I have something about poker that I want to talk about. Later
X
After a long decision, I finally decided yesterday to not attend tonight's off-Friday poker game. Nothing against the game, because I do like the format, I just needed to get my mind off competetive poker for a least one week. Playing every week is not only grueling on your mind, but your wallet as well. And we all pretty much know my bankroll is non-existent at the moment, so I am using my all purpose money to feed the demon that has become my poker obsession. Ok, so maybe it isn't that drastic at this point, but I still needed a break. Constantly playing, no matter how high the stakes are, is tough on your mind and taxing on you physically and mentally. A lot of times when you sit down to play, you have a bad beat you're still thinking about in the back of your mind. Sometimes, you're lucky enough to a point where it doesn't change the way you play. More often than not, especially when you're playing the same players over and over again, you play differently against the player who laid that beat on you. You try to overcompensate in a hand so that he / she doesn't suck out on you again, and you end up hurting your game because of it. If you played against a different group, I guess it would be different, who knows. All I know is that playing the same players every week, wears you down. I think I was at that point a few weeks ago, and it really hurt my game. I was playing mediocre hands against a mediocre player and getting beat by raggy flops. I thought to myself, "ok, X, you've got to open up your game otherwise you'll end up blinding yourself out." And that is true to a certain extent. I was limiting myself to only the very best hands. That's fine, but when you do play a hand, you usually get beaten by vastly inferior hands or the absolute nuts. The problem is you don't really know what you're up against and it is harder to fold say A - K whent the board reads A - Q - 10. This particular situation happened to me and the player I was up against had pocket A's and had flopped a set. Now I'm drawing to any one of the remaining jacks in the deck. There just happened to be three jacks left in the deck, as one was folded. But this was the thing that kept happening to me constantly over the period of several months. I wouldn't fold the hand and end up going broke. Last week at Kurt's, I opened my game up a little and it did pay dividends. There are some situations that I know what to do, it's just whether I have the stomach to do it. I find it really hard to revert back to my previous style knowing what I know now. I can't play like I used to, so instead I need to find newer and, better yet, more effective ways of changing up my game. I do change my game up well, I think. I personally think it is hard to put me on a hand most of the time. I don't bluff a whole heck of a lot, but when I do, it's usally effective. I generally do it to the tighter players who don't like getting involved with average hands. At this point, I definitely think I am a decent player who has good instincts. I just have to follow my instincts and not let bad beats get to me. I still have a lot of work to do until I reach my goal, but I think for a guy who three years ago didn't know a damn thing about poker, I've done a pretty good job.
Anyways, the WSOP Main Event just finished up being televised on ESPN. It actually had ended in mid-August. For poker players who take the game seriously, this is the mecca of poker. I think around 8,500 people showed up this year. Back in 2000, three hundred or so players showed up. It's really amazing how poker has grown over the course of six years. This year's Main Event winner, Jamie Gold, took home $12 million for his efforts. Actually, I should correct that. There is litigation going on currently between Jamie Gold and another player who said that Gold would split the winnings with him if he won. If his complaint is upheld, Gold would only get $6 million. It's sad that it has gone this far. Hopefully, this ugly situation won't permanently marr the way the WSOP and Harrah's does business.
Ok, I think I've done enough blogging for one day. I'll blog again when I have something about poker that I want to talk about. Later
X
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Well, 4th isn't that bad, right?
Hey everybody, good news! I just saved a bunch of money on car insurance by swicthing to Geico. LOL! Just kidding, but I do have good news. For the first time since the early summer, I got points. Not many, mind you. It also wasn't a win, but I did make the money, though. Although in the beginning, it looked like it was going to be another bad night.
The first game was kind of weird. Bill wasn't there like he usually is, even though he had a good reason, being in Florida. There was no Marc and Niki, which I was relieved about, since I'll be battling them just to stay in the top 25 over the next few weeks. Finally, Henry wasn't there either. So there were two of the usual suspects and quite a few good players not there. I figured that last night was as good as any to shoot for a win.
In the first game, the table I was at was a blend of a whole bunch of different styles. There was Steve, a strong solid player, Ryan a strong aggressive player who is reckless at times. There was George and Dave to players well known for their questionable play. There was Scott and I, who are tight yet aggressive players almost to a fault. But there was also an unknown player at the table who only lasted a couple of rounds last week when I played with him, Andy. From what I saw of Andy, he was a classic newbie. Calls with weak hands into big pots, doesn't define a hand when he raises, if he raises at all. He was sitting to my left and I have to admit he wasn't one of the players I was concerned with at the table.
The game started out well for me. I stole a couple blinds at times and I took a big pot away from Steve with a big raise when I had top pair and the nut flush draw. I was doing well for the most part until I ran into Scott who ended up river-ing a straight. I lost about 1/4 of my stack that hand, but I wasn't short stacked at that point. The very next hand, I pick up pocket 9's on the button. everyone folded to me and I raised about three and a half times the blind, a hefty raise. and Andy wasted no time in calling me. Steve had a little tougher time thinking and ended up folding. So heading to the flop it was just Andy and I. The flop came 7c - 5h - 2s, no flush draw, but there was a possibilty of straight draw, but nothing scared me on that board so I led out and bet $400. A huge bet which in my mind was telling Andy that I had a made hand. Guess it didn't work because Andy called with pretty much no hesitation. The turn came up Kc, which slowed me down a little. Andy checked and I did as well. The river came up an 8s, and the board read 7c - 5h - 2s - Kc - 8s. This time Andy led out and bet $300. I put him on A - 8 or some mediocre hand at best, certainly not a king. So I called and low and behold he had K - J offsuit. I was stunned, I mean the call preflop was questionable but still not that bad of a call, but the call on the flop?! That was very bad, awful at best. I mean I probably should have put him on the king, but come one, unless you have pocket K's, or big slick, there was no reason to call that hand on the flop. I got up and took a walk after that, which was probably the smart thing to do. I tried doubling a couple more times, but kept splitting pots against weaker hands. I finally ended up going out somewhere between 13th or 16th, not sure when exactly.
The second game started out a little worse. Dave, who seems to be my nemesis, was sitting to my right. The first hand I was in the big blind and I picked up Ah - Jh. There were two or three limpers so I bumped it to $80 to go. Sure enough, Dave calls me, everyone else did the smart thing and folded. The flop came up Jc - 10d - 7d, giving me top pair so I bet out after Dave checked it to me. I bet about $180 and Dave called me. The turn was Kh, and Dave led out and bet $200. I had mid pair and a gut shot so I called. The river came up 8h and Dave once again bet out $200. I should have folded but instead I wanted to see what Dave called me with, so I called. Dave turned over Kc - 10c, and once again, I was short stacked. I got most of my stack back a few hands later against Dave, but I still didn't have a lot of chips. We made it to the table merge after Jim and Paul got busted by Dave who made a terrible call, what a shock, with an alright hand. I ended up being sandwiched in between Mark and John, not the most favorable position to be in. The second hand I got dealt was Pocket K's. The blinds were now $40 - $80, and was second to act, I raised it to $260, and I got two calls, George and Elaine. The flop came up 2c - 5c - 7c, I was first to act and I didn't want to take any chances, so I went all in for my remaining $990. George called and so did Elaine. I figured I was toast and I started to pack up my stuff. The turn came 5h, and both George and Elaine checked. It was obvious that they were both on flush and / or staright draws, but no one had hit anything yet. So needless to say I was relieved, but still very nervous going to the river. The river was 3s, and once again both George and Elaine checked. I turned over my K's, and George mucked and so did Elaine, and I won a huge pot. That set me up for the rest of the tournament and I ended up finishing in 4th place, not a win, but hell, after the past few weeks, I ain't gonna complain. I didn't get much seperation from Marc and Niki, but it was still enough to at least let me breathe, at least for a little while.
In the end, I was pleased with the way I played, even in the face of some really weak play. I did everything right with the exception of a few hands and I got points which was absolutely great. I guess these last 7 weeks aren't going to be a total loss. Let's see if I can repeat this performance with another good showing in two weeks. Until next time everybody, later!
X
The first game was kind of weird. Bill wasn't there like he usually is, even though he had a good reason, being in Florida. There was no Marc and Niki, which I was relieved about, since I'll be battling them just to stay in the top 25 over the next few weeks. Finally, Henry wasn't there either. So there were two of the usual suspects and quite a few good players not there. I figured that last night was as good as any to shoot for a win.
In the first game, the table I was at was a blend of a whole bunch of different styles. There was Steve, a strong solid player, Ryan a strong aggressive player who is reckless at times. There was George and Dave to players well known for their questionable play. There was Scott and I, who are tight yet aggressive players almost to a fault. But there was also an unknown player at the table who only lasted a couple of rounds last week when I played with him, Andy. From what I saw of Andy, he was a classic newbie. Calls with weak hands into big pots, doesn't define a hand when he raises, if he raises at all. He was sitting to my left and I have to admit he wasn't one of the players I was concerned with at the table.
The game started out well for me. I stole a couple blinds at times and I took a big pot away from Steve with a big raise when I had top pair and the nut flush draw. I was doing well for the most part until I ran into Scott who ended up river-ing a straight. I lost about 1/4 of my stack that hand, but I wasn't short stacked at that point. The very next hand, I pick up pocket 9's on the button. everyone folded to me and I raised about three and a half times the blind, a hefty raise. and Andy wasted no time in calling me. Steve had a little tougher time thinking and ended up folding. So heading to the flop it was just Andy and I. The flop came 7c - 5h - 2s, no flush draw, but there was a possibilty of straight draw, but nothing scared me on that board so I led out and bet $400. A huge bet which in my mind was telling Andy that I had a made hand. Guess it didn't work because Andy called with pretty much no hesitation. The turn came up Kc, which slowed me down a little. Andy checked and I did as well. The river came up an 8s, and the board read 7c - 5h - 2s - Kc - 8s. This time Andy led out and bet $300. I put him on A - 8 or some mediocre hand at best, certainly not a king. So I called and low and behold he had K - J offsuit. I was stunned, I mean the call preflop was questionable but still not that bad of a call, but the call on the flop?! That was very bad, awful at best. I mean I probably should have put him on the king, but come one, unless you have pocket K's, or big slick, there was no reason to call that hand on the flop. I got up and took a walk after that, which was probably the smart thing to do. I tried doubling a couple more times, but kept splitting pots against weaker hands. I finally ended up going out somewhere between 13th or 16th, not sure when exactly.
The second game started out a little worse. Dave, who seems to be my nemesis, was sitting to my right. The first hand I was in the big blind and I picked up Ah - Jh. There were two or three limpers so I bumped it to $80 to go. Sure enough, Dave calls me, everyone else did the smart thing and folded. The flop came up Jc - 10d - 7d, giving me top pair so I bet out after Dave checked it to me. I bet about $180 and Dave called me. The turn was Kh, and Dave led out and bet $200. I had mid pair and a gut shot so I called. The river came up 8h and Dave once again bet out $200. I should have folded but instead I wanted to see what Dave called me with, so I called. Dave turned over Kc - 10c, and once again, I was short stacked. I got most of my stack back a few hands later against Dave, but I still didn't have a lot of chips. We made it to the table merge after Jim and Paul got busted by Dave who made a terrible call, what a shock, with an alright hand. I ended up being sandwiched in between Mark and John, not the most favorable position to be in. The second hand I got dealt was Pocket K's. The blinds were now $40 - $80, and was second to act, I raised it to $260, and I got two calls, George and Elaine. The flop came up 2c - 5c - 7c, I was first to act and I didn't want to take any chances, so I went all in for my remaining $990. George called and so did Elaine. I figured I was toast and I started to pack up my stuff. The turn came 5h, and both George and Elaine checked. It was obvious that they were both on flush and / or staright draws, but no one had hit anything yet. So needless to say I was relieved, but still very nervous going to the river. The river was 3s, and once again both George and Elaine checked. I turned over my K's, and George mucked and so did Elaine, and I won a huge pot. That set me up for the rest of the tournament and I ended up finishing in 4th place, not a win, but hell, after the past few weeks, I ain't gonna complain. I didn't get much seperation from Marc and Niki, but it was still enough to at least let me breathe, at least for a little while.
In the end, I was pleased with the way I played, even in the face of some really weak play. I did everything right with the exception of a few hands and I got points which was absolutely great. I guess these last 7 weeks aren't going to be a total loss. Let's see if I can repeat this performance with another good showing in two weeks. Until next time everybody, later!
X
Monday, September 18, 2006
Same Old Story, Different Day...
Hey everybody! I have been avoiding posting my results for the week or so because I have simply and painfully flat- out sucked. I don't want to be negative but I think this year is going to be a total loss. I once again failed to get any points, although I did make the final table in the second game last time. Now this week, Niki and Mark, the two players who are closest to me, are returning after a long absence. I wanted to get some seperation from them, but unfortunately, that time has come and passed. A few people have decided to take some time off and while I was thinking of doing the same, I also think that even if I show up and get no points, it's better than not showing up at all. I think if I was going to take time off, I should've done it in the beginning or in the middle of the season. I certainly can't do it now or at least I can't do it without getting a boat load of points to add to my cushion. Every week it's the same thing though, I play well, I make most of the right moves and I still end up on the outside looking in. Here, I'll give you some examples...
In the first game of the night, I was really focused. I wasn't chatty or even remotely audible. I don't think I said a word at the table (aside from raise, check, etc.) for at least 15 or 20 hands. I was playing well until Moe caught me trying to semi - bluff. That hurt my chip stack dearly. I finally started picking up good hands and I was putting pressure on the rest of the table, while picking up the blinds. Finally, I got Ac - Kd, and I went all in for about $1400 or so, maybe a little less. Kurt, who was the big stack at the table, made an isolation move and it worked. No one else wanted to contend with the big stack at that point in time, and I can't fault them. I also wasn't really concerned with what Kurt had, either. Face it, I wanted to be heads up with someone when I've got big slick. I knew Kurt didn't have much, otherwise he probably would've chosen just to call. I put Kurt on an ace w/ a weak kicker and it was probably suited. Against that, I didn't mind, and against ace - rag unsuited I had him dominated. Against king - x I had him dominated, so unless he had a small pair, which was possible, I was a favorite. No one else called and we flipped. He turned out to have Kc - Qd. It was one of the best situations I could've been in. The flop came: 2d - 5s - 2h. I was loving it, all I have to do is dodge a Q on the turn or river and I'm all set. The turn was 5c. The board now read 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c. I was still ok at that point, my ace kicker was still playing. All I needed to do was dodge a 2, 5, or Q and I would double up. The river came up 2s. The board had a full house, 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c - 2s. We chopped the blinds and I fell back in my seat. It's not like he had improved his hand, it's just my hand was counterfeited by the full boat. Mark, who was sitting at the table, called it a suck back. Whatever it was, it it absolutely sucked as far as I'm concerned, no pun intended. A few hands later I picked up pokcet J's and psuhed all in. Mark Immediately isolated me and turned over pocket A's. Nothing popped and I was out in 16th place.
The second game I was a little less focused, but not to the point of where I had no focus. I was just laying back, under the radar and let the game take its own course. I made it to the final table with a meager but still viable chipstack. I was somewhere around $1600 in chips. Of course, just my luck, I get seated in the big blind which was now quite expensive. The blinds were $200 - $400, I had a quarter of my stack invested in the pot without even looking at my hand. Everybody folded to the small blind, which was Scott and he just limped. I looked down at a ragged 5 - 7 offsuit and decided to check rather than push at that point. The flop came up: Jc - 5h - 2h. Scott checked it to me and I did something I usually never do... I pushed with middle pair. I went all in for my remaining $1200 and I was promptly called by Scott. Before I get into what he had, let me tell you why I had pushed. First, I had been sitting near or next to Scott all night and he had ALWAYS led out and bet with top pair. At least, he did when I saw him, which was virtually 65% of the time, but whatever. I also hit middle pair, which while not a monster, I thought it was the best hand at the time. Lastly, he checked to me, which I interpreted, all be it incorrectly, as a sign of weakness, so I decided to push. Anyways, Scott turned over Jh - 4h. I turned over my crappy 5 - 7 offsuit and prayed for a miracle. I got miracle on the turn when the 5s hit, givng me a set. The board read: Jc - 5h - 2h - 5s, I was ahead by a lot and only a few cards could've helped him. Well the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. The river was Ah, giving Scott a flush and destorying my set of 5's. I was the only person to walk away from that final table without points, being aptly named the bubble boy for the second game. In heinsight, Scott played the hand very well. I was caught off guard by his top pair, and I was less than thrilled when the flush came. I guess I could've cheked the flop and pushed all in on the turn. Maybe Scott would've folded had I done that, but I doubt it. Chalk it up as another misplayed hand by me, what a shock.
In closing, I don't expect much over the last 7 games, I just want to go for the win. I'll take any points I can get, but the win would really help me out going into the final stretch. We'll see if I can make it happen this week. Only time will tell. Until next time, later!
X
P.S. - Sorry about being so late with my post.
In the first game of the night, I was really focused. I wasn't chatty or even remotely audible. I don't think I said a word at the table (aside from raise, check, etc.) for at least 15 or 20 hands. I was playing well until Moe caught me trying to semi - bluff. That hurt my chip stack dearly. I finally started picking up good hands and I was putting pressure on the rest of the table, while picking up the blinds. Finally, I got Ac - Kd, and I went all in for about $1400 or so, maybe a little less. Kurt, who was the big stack at the table, made an isolation move and it worked. No one else wanted to contend with the big stack at that point in time, and I can't fault them. I also wasn't really concerned with what Kurt had, either. Face it, I wanted to be heads up with someone when I've got big slick. I knew Kurt didn't have much, otherwise he probably would've chosen just to call. I put Kurt on an ace w/ a weak kicker and it was probably suited. Against that, I didn't mind, and against ace - rag unsuited I had him dominated. Against king - x I had him dominated, so unless he had a small pair, which was possible, I was a favorite. No one else called and we flipped. He turned out to have Kc - Qd. It was one of the best situations I could've been in. The flop came: 2d - 5s - 2h. I was loving it, all I have to do is dodge a Q on the turn or river and I'm all set. The turn was 5c. The board now read 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c. I was still ok at that point, my ace kicker was still playing. All I needed to do was dodge a 2, 5, or Q and I would double up. The river came up 2s. The board had a full house, 2d - 5s - 2h - 5c - 2s. We chopped the blinds and I fell back in my seat. It's not like he had improved his hand, it's just my hand was counterfeited by the full boat. Mark, who was sitting at the table, called it a suck back. Whatever it was, it it absolutely sucked as far as I'm concerned, no pun intended. A few hands later I picked up pokcet J's and psuhed all in. Mark Immediately isolated me and turned over pocket A's. Nothing popped and I was out in 16th place.
The second game I was a little less focused, but not to the point of where I had no focus. I was just laying back, under the radar and let the game take its own course. I made it to the final table with a meager but still viable chipstack. I was somewhere around $1600 in chips. Of course, just my luck, I get seated in the big blind which was now quite expensive. The blinds were $200 - $400, I had a quarter of my stack invested in the pot without even looking at my hand. Everybody folded to the small blind, which was Scott and he just limped. I looked down at a ragged 5 - 7 offsuit and decided to check rather than push at that point. The flop came up: Jc - 5h - 2h. Scott checked it to me and I did something I usually never do... I pushed with middle pair. I went all in for my remaining $1200 and I was promptly called by Scott. Before I get into what he had, let me tell you why I had pushed. First, I had been sitting near or next to Scott all night and he had ALWAYS led out and bet with top pair. At least, he did when I saw him, which was virtually 65% of the time, but whatever. I also hit middle pair, which while not a monster, I thought it was the best hand at the time. Lastly, he checked to me, which I interpreted, all be it incorrectly, as a sign of weakness, so I decided to push. Anyways, Scott turned over Jh - 4h. I turned over my crappy 5 - 7 offsuit and prayed for a miracle. I got miracle on the turn when the 5s hit, givng me a set. The board read: Jc - 5h - 2h - 5s, I was ahead by a lot and only a few cards could've helped him. Well the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. The river was Ah, giving Scott a flush and destorying my set of 5's. I was the only person to walk away from that final table without points, being aptly named the bubble boy for the second game. In heinsight, Scott played the hand very well. I was caught off guard by his top pair, and I was less than thrilled when the flush came. I guess I could've cheked the flop and pushed all in on the turn. Maybe Scott would've folded had I done that, but I doubt it. Chalk it up as another misplayed hand by me, what a shock.
In closing, I don't expect much over the last 7 games, I just want to go for the win. I'll take any points I can get, but the win would really help me out going into the final stretch. We'll see if I can make it happen this week. Only time will tell. Until next time, later!
X
P.S. - Sorry about being so late with my post.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
I am such a donkey!...
Welcome back to my nonstop pain train, everybody. Another week of poker has come to pass and the verdict is in... yup, I still suck. Although I did try really hard this week not to be a donkey, I found myself in the usual position of being an ass. Let's hear about how awful I was this week...
Last Sunday, Ryan asked me if I wanted to go to a tournament being held in East Providence. It was at some bar named Bovi's Tavern. Having nothing to do that day, I decided to play. I still had the bad taste in my mouth from Kurt's and figured a change of scenery would do me some good. Man was I wrong about that one.
I got there a little less than an hour before the tournament began. When I walked in the place, there was five people there including the bar tender. I wondered if I was at the right place. After a few minutes, two guys came out of the back and started arranging the tables, so my question was answered before I even asked it. I called Ryan to let him know that I was there. After that, a bunch of people started filing in. I looked a few of them over, no one really stood out as a ringer, so I figured I had a good shot to do well. All in all about 41 people showed up for the tourney. The buy in was $40 and we started with $4000 in chips, a healthy amount. I was psyched to play and after we got seated, I was even more psyched because my table looked very weak. The first few hands went by and I caught nothing. The fourth hand I was in the big blind for $50 and I got dealt 7c - 7d. Three people limped and I checked hoping to see a cheap flop. Why didn't I raise? Well, it was early in the tournament, I was in bad position if someone called my raise, and if I missed my flop, most assuredly someone would be betting into me. Anyways, the flop came up 10s - 6c - 7h. I hit my set and was first to act as well. I was wondering what I should bet considering there was a straight draw on the board. I led out and bet $100, a weak bet by many standards but I didn't want someone to know I had a monster. The guy to my left raised it to $300, and everbody folded back to me. I thought for a little while, would this guy have called 8 - 9 offsuit? Probably considering he was pretty inexperienced and didn't know 8 -9 offsuit wasn't a very good hand to call with under the gun. I called the extra $200. The turn came up 3d. That didn't help or hurt me and obviously didn't help hime either. I bet $300 and he took about 0.2 seconds and called me. That concerned me deeply. If he called that quickly, he probably had something good. A high pocket pair, J - 9 maybe? I had already decided to push hard on the river regardless of what the it was. The river came up 10c, giving me a full house. I knew at that point I had him beat, it was just a matter of how much money could I get out of him. I bet $600, hoping he would raise me. $600 compared to how much was in the pot was realtively small and it looked like a steal bet. Instead of raising, he just called and I showed my boat and he immediately mucked. In heinsight, I probably should've bet more, seeing he would've paid me off, but I was happy to win whatever I could. It was by no means a great played hand on my part, but it could've been worse, I suppose. As time went on my cards got worse and worse. I think I got dealt 3 -7 offsuit like ten times. The only pocket pair I had after that was deuces. The blinds pretty much robbed my stack of all it was worth. I ended overplaying a mediocre hand and going out in 23rd place.
After the tourney, I had a couple beers at the bar and watched Ryan do well. About forty minutes later a second cash game had started up and I jumped in. The only thing I can say about the cash game is that you could expect to get called with everything under the sun. I was up for a while, but ended up busting out a little more than an hour or so after sitting down to play. Ironically, Ryan busted out two minutes after I did. He finished 9th, making the final table. We didn't stick around to see who won. Come to think of it, I really could care less who won. I didn't do well at all and the day was pretty much a total loss.
This past Friday was Jim's weekly game. Bill and I went and we ended up getting there later than anticpated. I will put it to you this way, I probably would have been better served handing my money to Jim and leaving. I didn't play much at all. I kept hitting middle pair when someone had hit top pair. They would bet, I knew what they had and would fold only to see the card I needed to improve on the turn or river. I ended up finishing 11th out 18 or so people. I didn't stick around for the cash game. I just wanted to get out of there. I was way to frustrated and was better served to leave rather than to stay and play.
Next week is Kurt's, and I am just hoping for a good finish this time around. I am also going to try a new method. The stay away from Dave and other players like him (Mohamad), method. Let's see how it will work out. I will post my Top 5 on Thursday. Until then, later.
X
Last Sunday, Ryan asked me if I wanted to go to a tournament being held in East Providence. It was at some bar named Bovi's Tavern. Having nothing to do that day, I decided to play. I still had the bad taste in my mouth from Kurt's and figured a change of scenery would do me some good. Man was I wrong about that one.
I got there a little less than an hour before the tournament began. When I walked in the place, there was five people there including the bar tender. I wondered if I was at the right place. After a few minutes, two guys came out of the back and started arranging the tables, so my question was answered before I even asked it. I called Ryan to let him know that I was there. After that, a bunch of people started filing in. I looked a few of them over, no one really stood out as a ringer, so I figured I had a good shot to do well. All in all about 41 people showed up for the tourney. The buy in was $40 and we started with $4000 in chips, a healthy amount. I was psyched to play and after we got seated, I was even more psyched because my table looked very weak. The first few hands went by and I caught nothing. The fourth hand I was in the big blind for $50 and I got dealt 7c - 7d. Three people limped and I checked hoping to see a cheap flop. Why didn't I raise? Well, it was early in the tournament, I was in bad position if someone called my raise, and if I missed my flop, most assuredly someone would be betting into me. Anyways, the flop came up 10s - 6c - 7h. I hit my set and was first to act as well. I was wondering what I should bet considering there was a straight draw on the board. I led out and bet $100, a weak bet by many standards but I didn't want someone to know I had a monster. The guy to my left raised it to $300, and everbody folded back to me. I thought for a little while, would this guy have called 8 - 9 offsuit? Probably considering he was pretty inexperienced and didn't know 8 -9 offsuit wasn't a very good hand to call with under the gun. I called the extra $200. The turn came up 3d. That didn't help or hurt me and obviously didn't help hime either. I bet $300 and he took about 0.2 seconds and called me. That concerned me deeply. If he called that quickly, he probably had something good. A high pocket pair, J - 9 maybe? I had already decided to push hard on the river regardless of what the it was. The river came up 10c, giving me a full house. I knew at that point I had him beat, it was just a matter of how much money could I get out of him. I bet $600, hoping he would raise me. $600 compared to how much was in the pot was realtively small and it looked like a steal bet. Instead of raising, he just called and I showed my boat and he immediately mucked. In heinsight, I probably should've bet more, seeing he would've paid me off, but I was happy to win whatever I could. It was by no means a great played hand on my part, but it could've been worse, I suppose. As time went on my cards got worse and worse. I think I got dealt 3 -7 offsuit like ten times. The only pocket pair I had after that was deuces. The blinds pretty much robbed my stack of all it was worth. I ended overplaying a mediocre hand and going out in 23rd place.
After the tourney, I had a couple beers at the bar and watched Ryan do well. About forty minutes later a second cash game had started up and I jumped in. The only thing I can say about the cash game is that you could expect to get called with everything under the sun. I was up for a while, but ended up busting out a little more than an hour or so after sitting down to play. Ironically, Ryan busted out two minutes after I did. He finished 9th, making the final table. We didn't stick around to see who won. Come to think of it, I really could care less who won. I didn't do well at all and the day was pretty much a total loss.
This past Friday was Jim's weekly game. Bill and I went and we ended up getting there later than anticpated. I will put it to you this way, I probably would have been better served handing my money to Jim and leaving. I didn't play much at all. I kept hitting middle pair when someone had hit top pair. They would bet, I knew what they had and would fold only to see the card I needed to improve on the turn or river. I ended up finishing 11th out 18 or so people. I didn't stick around for the cash game. I just wanted to get out of there. I was way to frustrated and was better served to leave rather than to stay and play.
Next week is Kurt's, and I am just hoping for a good finish this time around. I am also going to try a new method. The stay away from Dave and other players like him (Mohamad), method. Let's see how it will work out. I will post my Top 5 on Thursday. Until then, later.
X
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Don't mind me, I just suck a lot...
Hello all and welcome back to my blog. As far as this blog goes, why don't we call it X's BITCHFEST. That's pretty much what it's going to be anyways, so why beat around the bush? I mean, I know I'm unlucky and all, but does it have happen every week? Ok let me explain...
Yesterday all during work, I was so amped to play. I had poker on my mind, and I simply couldn't freakin' wait 'til the cards started to fly. I was ready to play well and make some final tables. Not to mention get some much needed points to distance myself from 25th place which is creeping up on me slowly but surely.
Anyways, I was filled with adrenaline when the first hand started. I had Ac - 6c, and I had limped in. Both Jack and Mark were in the hand as we went to the flop. The flop came up 4d - 4c - 6s. Jack checked to me and having top two pair with best kicker, I bet $120. Mark called and so did Jack. I was perplexed by their calls, but I still felt good about my hand at that point in time. The turn came up 10c. I now had the nut flush draw as well, but fearing someone else had a four, I checked along with Jack. Mark bet out $200, and I put him on A - K or A - Q, but I know the way he plays and he would've raised either of those hands preflop. I thought for a minute and called, needing another club for the nut flush or another six for a full boat. The river came up 10d, pairing the board again. The board was now 4d - 4c - 6s - 10c - 10d. Jack checked as well as I, Mark bet $250. Jack folded and it was up to me. I ran through the hand in my head. Would Mark have called me with a 10 off the flop? Was he slow playing a set off the flop? Was he full of crap and took my checking as being weak? EIther way, I thought my hand was no good and I ended up folding. Mark turned over pocket 4's after I mucked. He flopped quads and I bet into him! F--- me! At that point I knew my night would be rough. After that hand, I was up and down for the rest of the game. I had a big hand with John in which I lost half my stack to him when he flopped a full house. The final hand of the first game for me was rough as well. I had pocket 10's preflop and being shortstacked and in good position, I went all in. Jack who had raised under the gun called me with pocket K's. Nothing hit for me and I was out in 18th place.
The second game is where I damn near lost it. I normally vent for a few minutes, take a walk and cool off, but this time I couldn't hold back. I felt bad a little while after, but at the time it happened, it needed to be said. Here is what happened...
I was in the small blind for $20. The blinds were $20 - $40. I had pocket J's and ther was only one caller. I raised it to $200 and was immediately called by this new guy named Dave. The other caller ended up folding. Now, I hadn't played that much with Dave, but what I had seen from him wasn't very impressive. Like most newbie's, he over-values face cards and will pretty much call anything preflop. After he called I knew I was in pretty good shape. The flop came up 6s - 7d - 9s. It wasn't that scary of a flop unless the guy called me with 10 -8 or pocket 6's, 7's or 9's, possible, but not likely. The pot had about $440 in it, so I bet a little over half the pot. The bet was $250 and Dave called. The turn came up an 8s. Seeing a possible straight and flush out there I checked and so did Dave. The river was the 8h. I checked again and so did Dave. I show my two pair Jacks up and he shows his Q 10 of clubs. He hit the straight on the turn. I sat there for a minute in total shock. Other players at the table asked Dave why he was in the hand. He said he was pot committed. I finally snapped and said bulls--t. I took all of his pot odds away after the flop and he still made that call. I said a few other choice words and put my headphones on. I know I handled that beat less than stellar, but c'mon, I did everything right to protect my hand and still got beaten by junk. A few of the other players at the table couldn't believe it either. It was just flat out a horrible call. I guess I got to chalk it up to his inexperience, but that was a tough pill to swallow. I lost about half my stack on that hand and was on tilt for the rest of the game, which wasn't long for me. The last hand I had Jh - 10h and I was in the big blind for $100. Marty had raised it to $300, and I made a loose call. It was a hand that I usually like to see a flop with and they were suited as well. Dave called the raise as well, what a shock. It was three handed going to the flop. The flop came 7d - Js - 10d. Marty made a continuation bet of $300 and I went all in for $1020. Dave called my bet of $1020, which I completely didn't expect. Now Marty was getting good odds to call. There was $3240 in the pot and Marty was getting 3 to 1 on his money, so Marty called as well. The turn came up Ac, and the river was a 3h. I flipped up my two pair, Dave mucked so who knows what the hell he had, and Marty flipped over pocket A's giving him the winning hand with a set of A's. If only Dave hadn't called. I would've won the pot because marty would have laid his hand down. After that, I took a walk to cool of. I knew I played the best I could've played, but that still didn't make me feel any better. After the game, Paul came up to me and said that Dave had no business in the hand he beat me, and he also told me that Dave had done the same to him on the final table. That made me feel a little better.
All in all, my night pretty much sucked as much as it possibly could have. Suck outs, bad beats, quads, and an awful call ruined my night. I am still furious about the hand with Dave, but I'll get over it eventually. I am planning on attending Jim's next week so hopefully I can get the bad taste out of my mouth from last night. I'll post my results from that next Saturday. Until next time, later.
X
Yesterday all during work, I was so amped to play. I had poker on my mind, and I simply couldn't freakin' wait 'til the cards started to fly. I was ready to play well and make some final tables. Not to mention get some much needed points to distance myself from 25th place which is creeping up on me slowly but surely.
Anyways, I was filled with adrenaline when the first hand started. I had Ac - 6c, and I had limped in. Both Jack and Mark were in the hand as we went to the flop. The flop came up 4d - 4c - 6s. Jack checked to me and having top two pair with best kicker, I bet $120. Mark called and so did Jack. I was perplexed by their calls, but I still felt good about my hand at that point in time. The turn came up 10c. I now had the nut flush draw as well, but fearing someone else had a four, I checked along with Jack. Mark bet out $200, and I put him on A - K or A - Q, but I know the way he plays and he would've raised either of those hands preflop. I thought for a minute and called, needing another club for the nut flush or another six for a full boat. The river came up 10d, pairing the board again. The board was now 4d - 4c - 6s - 10c - 10d. Jack checked as well as I, Mark bet $250. Jack folded and it was up to me. I ran through the hand in my head. Would Mark have called me with a 10 off the flop? Was he slow playing a set off the flop? Was he full of crap and took my checking as being weak? EIther way, I thought my hand was no good and I ended up folding. Mark turned over pocket 4's after I mucked. He flopped quads and I bet into him! F--- me! At that point I knew my night would be rough. After that hand, I was up and down for the rest of the game. I had a big hand with John in which I lost half my stack to him when he flopped a full house. The final hand of the first game for me was rough as well. I had pocket 10's preflop and being shortstacked and in good position, I went all in. Jack who had raised under the gun called me with pocket K's. Nothing hit for me and I was out in 18th place.
The second game is where I damn near lost it. I normally vent for a few minutes, take a walk and cool off, but this time I couldn't hold back. I felt bad a little while after, but at the time it happened, it needed to be said. Here is what happened...
I was in the small blind for $20. The blinds were $20 - $40. I had pocket J's and ther was only one caller. I raised it to $200 and was immediately called by this new guy named Dave. The other caller ended up folding. Now, I hadn't played that much with Dave, but what I had seen from him wasn't very impressive. Like most newbie's, he over-values face cards and will pretty much call anything preflop. After he called I knew I was in pretty good shape. The flop came up 6s - 7d - 9s. It wasn't that scary of a flop unless the guy called me with 10 -8 or pocket 6's, 7's or 9's, possible, but not likely. The pot had about $440 in it, so I bet a little over half the pot. The bet was $250 and Dave called. The turn came up an 8s. Seeing a possible straight and flush out there I checked and so did Dave. The river was the 8h. I checked again and so did Dave. I show my two pair Jacks up and he shows his Q 10 of clubs. He hit the straight on the turn. I sat there for a minute in total shock. Other players at the table asked Dave why he was in the hand. He said he was pot committed. I finally snapped and said bulls--t. I took all of his pot odds away after the flop and he still made that call. I said a few other choice words and put my headphones on. I know I handled that beat less than stellar, but c'mon, I did everything right to protect my hand and still got beaten by junk. A few of the other players at the table couldn't believe it either. It was just flat out a horrible call. I guess I got to chalk it up to his inexperience, but that was a tough pill to swallow. I lost about half my stack on that hand and was on tilt for the rest of the game, which wasn't long for me. The last hand I had Jh - 10h and I was in the big blind for $100. Marty had raised it to $300, and I made a loose call. It was a hand that I usually like to see a flop with and they were suited as well. Dave called the raise as well, what a shock. It was three handed going to the flop. The flop came 7d - Js - 10d. Marty made a continuation bet of $300 and I went all in for $1020. Dave called my bet of $1020, which I completely didn't expect. Now Marty was getting good odds to call. There was $3240 in the pot and Marty was getting 3 to 1 on his money, so Marty called as well. The turn came up Ac, and the river was a 3h. I flipped up my two pair, Dave mucked so who knows what the hell he had, and Marty flipped over pocket A's giving him the winning hand with a set of A's. If only Dave hadn't called. I would've won the pot because marty would have laid his hand down. After that, I took a walk to cool of. I knew I played the best I could've played, but that still didn't make me feel any better. After the game, Paul came up to me and said that Dave had no business in the hand he beat me, and he also told me that Dave had done the same to him on the final table. That made me feel a little better.
All in all, my night pretty much sucked as much as it possibly could have. Suck outs, bad beats, quads, and an awful call ruined my night. I am still furious about the hand with Dave, but I'll get over it eventually. I am planning on attending Jim's next week so hopefully I can get the bad taste out of my mouth from last night. I'll post my results from that next Saturday. Until next time, later.
X
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Top 5, 08/24/06, thoughts about Kurt's league, miscellaneous junk...
Hi all! Summer is fading fast but the action at Kurt's is still hot and heavy. Keeping that in mind, I've come up with my Top 5 for tomorrow's game at Kurt's. There are a few changes this week, but no major ones to note. Here we go!
My first pick has become a regular on my Top 5 over the last few weeks. Although he had me on tilt for most of the night at Jim's last week, my first pick is Moe.
My second pick has stated that he will have an "awesome" night tomorrow. So far, every time he has said that, he hasn't done that well. Against my better judgement, my second pick this week is Kurt.
My third pick scored points for the first time in over two months last time at Kurt's. I think he's due for a repeat performance this week. My third pick is Mark.
My fourth pick has blown hot and cold for a few weeks. When I don't pick him, he does well, proven by his win and his money last time. When I do pick him however, he get's a bagel and is out before the first table merge. So with my fingers crossed my fourth pick is Ryan.
Every good Top 5 has to have a dark horse and this week is no exception. This person is, in my opinion, the most likeable guy in KNK. He also could stand in for one of the actors in the sequel (if there ever was a sequel), to Euro Trip. My fifth and final pick is Marty.
Recapping this week's Top 5:
1. Moe
2. Kurt
3. Mark
4. Ryan
5. Marty
In other news, there has been a lot of back and forth about what we should change in Kurt's league. Are the blinds too long or not long enough? Should the current point system be scrapped? Should we go to one tournament with a bigger buy in? Should we start doing rebuys? Don't get me wrong, a little change to the structure of the league here and there is healthy and will benefit this league in the future, but let's not go crazy with changes. If what has been proposed comes to pass, we're talking about a completely different league. These are a few of my thoughts on the suggestions on the table.
First, the blinds could use a little tweeking, but not that much. Maybe a minute or two for the first 5 rounds or so. If that's too much, then they don't really need to be changed. Next, the point system should be adjusted, not totally scrapped. I think a 75 point bonus for a win is a little much. As far as points go, I'll leave it to the eggheads who are good at math. I think one tournament is absolutely out of the question. I come from Taunton and the game is held in Attleboro. It's not too far, but isn't exactly a short trip either. If I come to the game and get knocked out early, my night is done. I think what makes Kurt's game unique is that if you have a bad first game, you can try and make up for it in the second game. Lastly, absolutely no rebuys. We have been tinkering with the whole rebuy idea at Jim's and it has seemed to be a nice change of pace, but I personally think having the rebuy option on the table degrades the level of play. I'll give you an example from this past week at Jim's. In the last hand before the rebuy period ended, four people went all in, two of whom went in blind, knowing that if they get busted they can rebuy and continue playing with a normal stack as if nothing ever happened. Then there is the problem awarding points. I'll use the same example I used on Kurt's blog. If I bust out in fourth and someone who rebought busted in third, why should he get more points than I do if I haven't rebought. The whole rebuy system favors the looser, more aggressive and sometimes reckless player. The tighter, more solid players are almost put into a situation where they must start out well or rebuy for fear of becoming the short stack at the end of the rebuy period without losing a hand.
Anyways, in other news, Bill, Ryan, and I are planning a weekend trip to Atlantic City on Veteran's Day weekend. We are planning on staying at The Sands Hotel and Casino or The Tropicana Hotel, Resort and Casino. We could always use a fourth or fifth body to come with us. The plan, as it is stands now, is to play in a couple, (3 or 4) tournaments, during that weekend. If anyone is interested on the particulars of the trip, feel free of pulling Bill, Ryan , or I aside to ask us a few questions. That's it for me, good luck to everyone tomorrow night at Kurt's. I'll post my results over the weekend. Later.
X
My first pick has become a regular on my Top 5 over the last few weeks. Although he had me on tilt for most of the night at Jim's last week, my first pick is Moe.
My second pick has stated that he will have an "awesome" night tomorrow. So far, every time he has said that, he hasn't done that well. Against my better judgement, my second pick this week is Kurt.
My third pick scored points for the first time in over two months last time at Kurt's. I think he's due for a repeat performance this week. My third pick is Mark.
My fourth pick has blown hot and cold for a few weeks. When I don't pick him, he does well, proven by his win and his money last time. When I do pick him however, he get's a bagel and is out before the first table merge. So with my fingers crossed my fourth pick is Ryan.
Every good Top 5 has to have a dark horse and this week is no exception. This person is, in my opinion, the most likeable guy in KNK. He also could stand in for one of the actors in the sequel (if there ever was a sequel), to Euro Trip. My fifth and final pick is Marty.
Recapping this week's Top 5:
1. Moe
2. Kurt
3. Mark
4. Ryan
5. Marty
In other news, there has been a lot of back and forth about what we should change in Kurt's league. Are the blinds too long or not long enough? Should the current point system be scrapped? Should we go to one tournament with a bigger buy in? Should we start doing rebuys? Don't get me wrong, a little change to the structure of the league here and there is healthy and will benefit this league in the future, but let's not go crazy with changes. If what has been proposed comes to pass, we're talking about a completely different league. These are a few of my thoughts on the suggestions on the table.
First, the blinds could use a little tweeking, but not that much. Maybe a minute or two for the first 5 rounds or so. If that's too much, then they don't really need to be changed. Next, the point system should be adjusted, not totally scrapped. I think a 75 point bonus for a win is a little much. As far as points go, I'll leave it to the eggheads who are good at math. I think one tournament is absolutely out of the question. I come from Taunton and the game is held in Attleboro. It's not too far, but isn't exactly a short trip either. If I come to the game and get knocked out early, my night is done. I think what makes Kurt's game unique is that if you have a bad first game, you can try and make up for it in the second game. Lastly, absolutely no rebuys. We have been tinkering with the whole rebuy idea at Jim's and it has seemed to be a nice change of pace, but I personally think having the rebuy option on the table degrades the level of play. I'll give you an example from this past week at Jim's. In the last hand before the rebuy period ended, four people went all in, two of whom went in blind, knowing that if they get busted they can rebuy and continue playing with a normal stack as if nothing ever happened. Then there is the problem awarding points. I'll use the same example I used on Kurt's blog. If I bust out in fourth and someone who rebought busted in third, why should he get more points than I do if I haven't rebought. The whole rebuy system favors the looser, more aggressive and sometimes reckless player. The tighter, more solid players are almost put into a situation where they must start out well or rebuy for fear of becoming the short stack at the end of the rebuy period without losing a hand.
Anyways, in other news, Bill, Ryan, and I are planning a weekend trip to Atlantic City on Veteran's Day weekend. We are planning on staying at The Sands Hotel and Casino or The Tropicana Hotel, Resort and Casino. We could always use a fourth or fifth body to come with us. The plan, as it is stands now, is to play in a couple, (3 or 4) tournaments, during that weekend. If anyone is interested on the particulars of the trip, feel free of pulling Bill, Ryan , or I aside to ask us a few questions. That's it for me, good luck to everyone tomorrow night at Kurt's. I'll post my results over the weekend. Later.
X
Sunday, August 20, 2006
I hate this game...
Hello once again. It's been more than a week since I published my last post. I just haven't had much time to sit and chit-chat this past week. Now that I have some time, I'll catch everybody up on what's been going on this past week or so.
First I'll tell what happened at Kurt's a week ago Friday. Ready... . As you've probably noticed, I wrote absolutely nothing. That's what happened absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing. In the first game I was playing really tight condsidering I wasn't at that tough of a table. There were a few maniacs, but only a few solid players in my opinion. Well, to make a long story short, Mohamad accumulated a ridiculous amount of chips within a short period of time. Meanwhile, I had only played two hands and lost abut $200. I was in the big blind for $40 when I picked up pocket 7's. Mohamad in mid-position raised it to $240 to go. Mohamad had been doing this ever since he was big stacked and he'd been doing it with marginal hands at best. I figured he was trying to steal my blind, so I raised it to $600 to go. Everyone folded back to him, and he sat there and thought for a while. I thought he was going to lay whatever he had down, instead, he raised me all in. I thought for a few seconds and considered he probably had something decent, A - K suited or maybe A - Q, all of which I was ahead preflop. I had pretty much half my stack in the pot and figured why not, so I called. He had K - Q, and I was relieved for a second. My relief soon turned to anguish after the flop when he hit his king. Nothing helped me and I was out of the tournament in 23 place. Great!
I thought I would do better the second game and I did, at least for a while. I made it to the first table merge, but the blinds ate me alive. After the blinds raped me for a second time, I was left with $1800. When the big blind hit me again, I picked up A - 4 offsuit, and pushed it all in. I had two people call me and I figured I was toast. The flop didn't help me at all. The turn came up As, giving ,me top pair and a glimmer of hope. The river was a 6c and I thought I would win. That was until Mark showed two pair, which he caught his second pair on the river, to knock me out in 13th place. Needless to say, my night at Kurt's wasn't a great success... it was however a great suckfest.
With the bad night from Kurt's still looming over my head, I tried to change my luck at Jim's this past Friday. The first game started out badly. Steve C. flopped a straight on me when I had top pair, Moe had me on tilt for most of the game, and I couldn't catch a flop to save my life. I did make it to the final table. My stack was short, then I doubled up to watch it shrink back down again. I folded a couple hands I would've won, once against Moe, what a shock. Bill ended up knocking me out with pocket 7's against my A - J in 7th place. I didn't really want to play the cash game because they were playing really loose and Mohamad was sucking out left and right. Jim said we were probably going to play a second game and I was all for it. In the second game, I did pretty well doubling up when I needed to, but I ended up finishing one spot out of the money in fourth.
All in all, I didn't play that badly, in my opinion. I just got unlucky, a lot. Next is Kurt's this Friday. I am desperately trying to accumulate points to distance myself from the 25th and final spot for the end of the year tournament. Of course, a win would help tremendously, but i'll take whatever I can get. I'll post my Top 5 later in the week. Until next time, later.
X
First I'll tell what happened at Kurt's a week ago Friday. Ready... . As you've probably noticed, I wrote absolutely nothing. That's what happened absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing. In the first game I was playing really tight condsidering I wasn't at that tough of a table. There were a few maniacs, but only a few solid players in my opinion. Well, to make a long story short, Mohamad accumulated a ridiculous amount of chips within a short period of time. Meanwhile, I had only played two hands and lost abut $200. I was in the big blind for $40 when I picked up pocket 7's. Mohamad in mid-position raised it to $240 to go. Mohamad had been doing this ever since he was big stacked and he'd been doing it with marginal hands at best. I figured he was trying to steal my blind, so I raised it to $600 to go. Everyone folded back to him, and he sat there and thought for a while. I thought he was going to lay whatever he had down, instead, he raised me all in. I thought for a few seconds and considered he probably had something decent, A - K suited or maybe A - Q, all of which I was ahead preflop. I had pretty much half my stack in the pot and figured why not, so I called. He had K - Q, and I was relieved for a second. My relief soon turned to anguish after the flop when he hit his king. Nothing helped me and I was out of the tournament in 23 place. Great!
I thought I would do better the second game and I did, at least for a while. I made it to the first table merge, but the blinds ate me alive. After the blinds raped me for a second time, I was left with $1800. When the big blind hit me again, I picked up A - 4 offsuit, and pushed it all in. I had two people call me and I figured I was toast. The flop didn't help me at all. The turn came up As, giving ,me top pair and a glimmer of hope. The river was a 6c and I thought I would win. That was until Mark showed two pair, which he caught his second pair on the river, to knock me out in 13th place. Needless to say, my night at Kurt's wasn't a great success... it was however a great suckfest.
With the bad night from Kurt's still looming over my head, I tried to change my luck at Jim's this past Friday. The first game started out badly. Steve C. flopped a straight on me when I had top pair, Moe had me on tilt for most of the game, and I couldn't catch a flop to save my life. I did make it to the final table. My stack was short, then I doubled up to watch it shrink back down again. I folded a couple hands I would've won, once against Moe, what a shock. Bill ended up knocking me out with pocket 7's against my A - J in 7th place. I didn't really want to play the cash game because they were playing really loose and Mohamad was sucking out left and right. Jim said we were probably going to play a second game and I was all for it. In the second game, I did pretty well doubling up when I needed to, but I ended up finishing one spot out of the money in fourth.
All in all, I didn't play that badly, in my opinion. I just got unlucky, a lot. Next is Kurt's this Friday. I am desperately trying to accumulate points to distance myself from the 25th and final spot for the end of the year tournament. Of course, a win would help tremendously, but i'll take whatever I can get. I'll post my Top 5 later in the week. Until next time, later.
X
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Top 5 - 08/11/06
Welcome everybody. It's time once again for my Top 5 list for this Friday's games. I know I say this every time, but I hope to capture that elusive first win of the season. We're more than halfway and the top 6 point leaders are starting to break away from the rest of the field. Aside what a win would mean for me as far as points are concerned, it would certainly help my confidence and vindicate all the hard work that has gone into me revamping the entire way I play. It's been a rough year so far with a few glimmers of hope. All I can say is I am glad to be in 18th or 19th place after the awful start I've had. Needless to say, I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping tomorrow night will be my night. Anyways, enough about the past, it's Top 5 ime and I think this week's crop will be interesting to watch for sure. I've got two of the usual suspects, a player retunring from a week off, a player trying to redeem himself, and a dark horse that seems to be a good choice. Let's git'r done!
My first pick is one of the usual suspects and seems to be on a little rush as of late. My first pick is Moe.
My second pick is the other name that I've picked for a while. He's probably one of the more consistent players in the league. My second pick is Greg.
My third pick is a player who is returning after a week of being down at the cape. My third pick is Leo.
My fourth pick is one I'm not sure about. Every single time I pick him he never does well. I'll give him one more shot before he's blacklisted from this Top 5. My fourth pick is Mister Poker, Ryan.
My fifth and final pick was up in the air for a while. I wanted to pick someone who I hadn't picked before. I hemmed and hawed about it before finally choosing one of the newer players at Kurt's. From what I've seen of him, he is a solid player who can really surprise some people. My fifth and final pick is Scott S.
Ok, to recap the list it's 1. Moe, 2. Greg, 3. Leo, 4. Ryan, and 5. Scott S. That's it for now. Good luck to everyone on Friday. I'll post my results on Saturday. Later.
X
My first pick is one of the usual suspects and seems to be on a little rush as of late. My first pick is Moe.
My second pick is the other name that I've picked for a while. He's probably one of the more consistent players in the league. My second pick is Greg.
My third pick is a player who is returning after a week of being down at the cape. My third pick is Leo.
My fourth pick is one I'm not sure about. Every single time I pick him he never does well. I'll give him one more shot before he's blacklisted from this Top 5. My fourth pick is Mister Poker, Ryan.
My fifth and final pick was up in the air for a while. I wanted to pick someone who I hadn't picked before. I hemmed and hawed about it before finally choosing one of the newer players at Kurt's. From what I've seen of him, he is a solid player who can really surprise some people. My fifth and final pick is Scott S.
Ok, to recap the list it's 1. Moe, 2. Greg, 3. Leo, 4. Ryan, and 5. Scott S. That's it for now. Good luck to everyone on Friday. I'll post my results on Saturday. Later.
X
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Off Week Poker, Miscellaneous News...
Welcome back everybody! I got a couple of topics to discuss so let's not waste anymore time on pleasantries.
Off week poker was last night and it was simply suck-tastic. Needless to say, I didn't fare well last night. The first tournament started off pretty well. I won a couple small pots, stole some blinds, you know the usual for me. Then the good cards stopped coming. I kept on getting ace-rag under the gun and I couldn't play it. At least not at the table I was at. To my left I had Jim Sr., Ryan, a new guy named Tom who played well, Paul M., Henry, Niki, Jack and finally Greg. It wasn't a tough table, it was just a loose-aggressive table. The one big pot I lost some chips in was against Niki. I had As - Qd and was three positions away from the blind. Niki raises under the gun, I put her on Jacks. Two folds then it was my action, and raised her initial raise of $120 to $300. Jim Sr. immediately calls me and the table folded to Niki as she called the $180 on top as I expected she would. The flop comes up Ks - 10d - 9s. I had a gut-shot straight draw, needing a jack for Broadway. She bet $300 and this is where I made the mistake. I tried to portray that I Big Slick and made top pair with a straight draw, so I raised her to $600. Jim Sr. folded, I'm guessing he had an ace but he probably could've had anything. She went all in and I'm thinking to myself, "that's a pretty ballsy bet with that board if she had pocket jacks". I decided that she didn't have jacks, she must've had queens or better to make that bet. I laid the hand down losing about $1000 and it turned out she had pocket kings and flopped a set. That started my downward spiral which culminated in me getting busted in ugly fashion by Bob P. I had Kc - 8s in the big blind. It was called to me so I checked it down. The flop came up 8c - 6c - 5c. I had about $1700 left and went all in with top pair and was called immediately by Bob P. I thought Bob hit the flush, instead he hit the straight. I figured I still could make a flush but no other clubs came up to help me and I was out.
The cash game on the side table was more of the same nonsense. Suckouts galore and loose play all around, myself included. I lost about $20 on that table. I will not mention this table further as I am still steaming over a few hands with a certain individual whom shall reamain nameless.
We decided at the end of the first tournament to do another smaller tournament. $10 buy in, $1000 in chips, and 10 minute blinds. It started out nice, but very aggressive and very competetive. I ended up finishing sixth in that tournament and had no money to show for the night. It sucked because originally I had planned on not going because I was getting burnt out. I've played poker for nearly four months nonstop. The plan is for me to play this week at Kurt's and then take the next week off from tournament play. I like the off week poker set up, but after last night, I really need some time off. I'll post my Top 5 on Thursday as usual. I may post again before that, I'm not sure. Until then, have a nice weekend!
X
Off week poker was last night and it was simply suck-tastic. Needless to say, I didn't fare well last night. The first tournament started off pretty well. I won a couple small pots, stole some blinds, you know the usual for me. Then the good cards stopped coming. I kept on getting ace-rag under the gun and I couldn't play it. At least not at the table I was at. To my left I had Jim Sr., Ryan, a new guy named Tom who played well, Paul M., Henry, Niki, Jack and finally Greg. It wasn't a tough table, it was just a loose-aggressive table. The one big pot I lost some chips in was against Niki. I had As - Qd and was three positions away from the blind. Niki raises under the gun, I put her on Jacks. Two folds then it was my action, and raised her initial raise of $120 to $300. Jim Sr. immediately calls me and the table folded to Niki as she called the $180 on top as I expected she would. The flop comes up Ks - 10d - 9s. I had a gut-shot straight draw, needing a jack for Broadway. She bet $300 and this is where I made the mistake. I tried to portray that I Big Slick and made top pair with a straight draw, so I raised her to $600. Jim Sr. folded, I'm guessing he had an ace but he probably could've had anything. She went all in and I'm thinking to myself, "that's a pretty ballsy bet with that board if she had pocket jacks". I decided that she didn't have jacks, she must've had queens or better to make that bet. I laid the hand down losing about $1000 and it turned out she had pocket kings and flopped a set. That started my downward spiral which culminated in me getting busted in ugly fashion by Bob P. I had Kc - 8s in the big blind. It was called to me so I checked it down. The flop came up 8c - 6c - 5c. I had about $1700 left and went all in with top pair and was called immediately by Bob P. I thought Bob hit the flush, instead he hit the straight. I figured I still could make a flush but no other clubs came up to help me and I was out.
The cash game on the side table was more of the same nonsense. Suckouts galore and loose play all around, myself included. I lost about $20 on that table. I will not mention this table further as I am still steaming over a few hands with a certain individual whom shall reamain nameless.
We decided at the end of the first tournament to do another smaller tournament. $10 buy in, $1000 in chips, and 10 minute blinds. It started out nice, but very aggressive and very competetive. I ended up finishing sixth in that tournament and had no money to show for the night. It sucked because originally I had planned on not going because I was getting burnt out. I've played poker for nearly four months nonstop. The plan is for me to play this week at Kurt's and then take the next week off from tournament play. I like the off week poker set up, but after last night, I really need some time off. I'll post my Top 5 on Thursday as usual. I may post again before that, I'm not sure. Until then, have a nice weekend!
X
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Oh no, I suck again!!!
Hello all, welcome back to my blog. In my last post I said I would post my results from this past Friday at Kurt's. Well here it is... 0. Yep, that's right, a big fat bagel. It sucked because I thought I was playing well. It was almost surreal. I had chips one minute and the next, I was broke. Both times I had the better hand preflop and things just didn't go my way. In the first game I was up and down for the most part, but I wasn't desperate. I will say I was on an extremely tough table. My table was loaded with talent at the beginning. I had Bill, Ryan, Jack, Jim, and Mark at my table to start with. The first 3 are the top 3 in points this year. The hand I went out on in the first game was crazy. I had just called an all in the previous hand with a decent but still marginal hand. Needless to say, after that call I was considerably short stacked. I had about $520 and I was up for the big blind the next hand. I look at my hand and what do I find but pocket queens. I was thrilled to say the least, plus I had position on the rest of the table. Jim was first to act and folded. Bill was next and he was in the pot with me on the previous hand and was short stacked as well. He had a little over $1000 and he went all in. Then the rest of the table folded until it got to Mark, who was the small blind. He was short stacked too and he went all in for about $800. Then it was up to me, and I'm thinking to myself no matter if someone has aces, I have to play these. I went all in for $520 total and I was praying that no one had aces or kings or big slick. We turned our cards over and Bill had A - 4 offsuit and Mark had pocket Jacks. I was happy to see the only made hand was Jacks although the ace high scared me a little. At that point I'm a 3 to 2 favorite over ace high and 4 to 1 favorite over the Jacks. The flop was all low cards and no staright or flush cards, so I had improved against the ace high and was dominating the jacks. The turn came up an ace, and there went my queens down the tubes. I went from being a favorite to being a 4 to 1 dog, drawing to one other queen in the deck because Jim had mucked a queen. The river came up another ace, giving Bill a set and destroying my queens. Needless to say I wasn't happy about it and I didn't take the beat to well. I wasn't angry at Bill for making the move he did, I was pissed because I got sucked out on. But hey, that's poker. I apologized to Bill for my reaction a little later, but at the time I wasn't in the mood for talking and I was on steam for a while.
That brings me to the start of second game. I started out well, picking up good cards and making good moves to grab an early chip lead. That was until I had pocket tens against Jack. I had raised three and a half times the big blind trying to force out weaker and drawing hands and I only got one call, Jack. The flop came up 9s - 9c- 7d. I thought I was still good, figuring all of the nine - rags were out of the pot, so I value bet half the pot and Jack came over the top for another $300. I thought for a minute and called. I don't know why I called, because I had put Jack on a set of nines, or at the very least a pair of sevens with an ace. The turn came up 8h, and I checked it to Jack who promptly went all in. While the 8 gave me more outs, I pretty much knew I was beaten and threw my hand away. I shot myself in the foot, costing myself $300 more after I knew i was beat. A couple of hands later I get Qd - 9d in early position and I just limped in. The flop came up 9s - 8d - 5s. There were four of us in the pot and I had flopped top pair with a decent kicker and it was checked to me so I led out an bet a decent bet. I don't remember how much exactly, but it was close to half the pot. I got one call and two folds. The turn came up 9c, giving me a set. I led out again and this time bet more than half the pot, I think it was $600, and the other guy called. The river came up Js, I bet $400 and the guy raised me all in. At this point I was wondering if he had the other nine and I was going to get out kicked. I wasn't really worried about a flush or a straight because I thought I had knocked out all the draws with my bets on the flop and turn. I really thought I was up against another set or a pocket pair, so I called. The guy turned up the nut flush of spades. I just stared at the board for a second and let it sink in. I was shocked he had called me on the turn after not improving his hand. And just like that I was out of the second game.
After the second game, I was at the cash table for a while, doing ok and just treading water. When the second game finished, Greg asked if we wanted to play another tournament. $20 buy in, $1000 in chips to start. I was in for sure as I wanted to get the bad taste out of my mouth from the previous games. 11 people started the game and most if not all were solid players. I won a big pot early in the game and was a decent stack throughout. I didn't play all that many hands, as my cards really sucked for most of the game. I tried to steal the blinds whenever I could. We got down to five players and I really wanted to finish well, if not win. I got dealt As - 8s and played a huge pot mainly on a flush draw. The draw never materialized and I was left with $300. What happened next not only shocked me, It'll probably never happen to me again. I was the big blind the next hand and was all in blind. It came down to just the blinds, Jack and myself. He called, and we flipped, I hadn't even looked at my hole cards. Jack turned over Jc - 6h, and I turned over Ac - 4d. My ace high held up and I doubled up. The next hand I got Ad - Kd. I went all in again and again I doubled up. Now I was at $1500. The next hand I got Ac - 10c, I called the big blind, and both Jim Sr. and Jack were all in for a little more than $600, so I called. I ended up flopping the nut flush and taking them both out. Now I was at $4800, not bad for being all in blind for $300, huh? It gets better. The next hand I get dealt pocket Jacks. John went all in and I called him. He had Qd - Jh. Nothing popped and I knocked him out in third place. Now Jim and I were heads up and I had a massive chip lead. I folded the first hand only to get dealt Ac - Kd the next hand in the big blind. Jim went all in with Ks - 5h. Nothing hit for him and I ended up winning it all. That just capped one of the most amazing comebacks I've ever been a part of. That made my night a little more palletable. I'm done, I'll post later this week on my plans for poker this Friday. Later!
X
That brings me to the start of second game. I started out well, picking up good cards and making good moves to grab an early chip lead. That was until I had pocket tens against Jack. I had raised three and a half times the big blind trying to force out weaker and drawing hands and I only got one call, Jack. The flop came up 9s - 9c- 7d. I thought I was still good, figuring all of the nine - rags were out of the pot, so I value bet half the pot and Jack came over the top for another $300. I thought for a minute and called. I don't know why I called, because I had put Jack on a set of nines, or at the very least a pair of sevens with an ace. The turn came up 8h, and I checked it to Jack who promptly went all in. While the 8 gave me more outs, I pretty much knew I was beaten and threw my hand away. I shot myself in the foot, costing myself $300 more after I knew i was beat. A couple of hands later I get Qd - 9d in early position and I just limped in. The flop came up 9s - 8d - 5s. There were four of us in the pot and I had flopped top pair with a decent kicker and it was checked to me so I led out an bet a decent bet. I don't remember how much exactly, but it was close to half the pot. I got one call and two folds. The turn came up 9c, giving me a set. I led out again and this time bet more than half the pot, I think it was $600, and the other guy called. The river came up Js, I bet $400 and the guy raised me all in. At this point I was wondering if he had the other nine and I was going to get out kicked. I wasn't really worried about a flush or a straight because I thought I had knocked out all the draws with my bets on the flop and turn. I really thought I was up against another set or a pocket pair, so I called. The guy turned up the nut flush of spades. I just stared at the board for a second and let it sink in. I was shocked he had called me on the turn after not improving his hand. And just like that I was out of the second game.
After the second game, I was at the cash table for a while, doing ok and just treading water. When the second game finished, Greg asked if we wanted to play another tournament. $20 buy in, $1000 in chips to start. I was in for sure as I wanted to get the bad taste out of my mouth from the previous games. 11 people started the game and most if not all were solid players. I won a big pot early in the game and was a decent stack throughout. I didn't play all that many hands, as my cards really sucked for most of the game. I tried to steal the blinds whenever I could. We got down to five players and I really wanted to finish well, if not win. I got dealt As - 8s and played a huge pot mainly on a flush draw. The draw never materialized and I was left with $300. What happened next not only shocked me, It'll probably never happen to me again. I was the big blind the next hand and was all in blind. It came down to just the blinds, Jack and myself. He called, and we flipped, I hadn't even looked at my hole cards. Jack turned over Jc - 6h, and I turned over Ac - 4d. My ace high held up and I doubled up. The next hand I got Ad - Kd. I went all in again and again I doubled up. Now I was at $1500. The next hand I got Ac - 10c, I called the big blind, and both Jim Sr. and Jack were all in for a little more than $600, so I called. I ended up flopping the nut flush and taking them both out. Now I was at $4800, not bad for being all in blind for $300, huh? It gets better. The next hand I get dealt pocket Jacks. John went all in and I called him. He had Qd - Jh. Nothing popped and I knocked him out in third place. Now Jim and I were heads up and I had a massive chip lead. I folded the first hand only to get dealt Ac - Kd the next hand in the big blind. Jim went all in with Ks - 5h. Nothing hit for him and I ended up winning it all. That just capped one of the most amazing comebacks I've ever been a part of. That made my night a little more palletable. I'm done, I'll post later this week on my plans for poker this Friday. Later!
X
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Top 5 - 7/28
Hello again everybody. I hope everyone is stayed cool this past week. It's the day before Kurt's Friday night poker league and that means only one thing... my Top 5 list. After some careful consideration, I have compiled a list that should do well. As far as last week goes, I've left Jim off this week's list at his behest. He alleged that our picking him was jinxing him. Kurt has also asked me not to pick him. People, I'm not playing voodoo jedi mind games with this list. The reason you people do badly when I pick you is simple, you CHOKE! Not because I put any undo pressure on you, not because I jinx or curse you, you choke, plain and simple. Deal with it people, and stop blaming me for your bad finishes. Anyways, now that I've got that out of my system, we can now move forward with my Top 5. Oh, just one more thing, I'm not picking Ryan either. Not because he asked me to, but because every time I pick him he gets a bagel. So, until he starts doing better, he's out of my Top 5 indefinitely. OK, let's get started.
My first pick did so well for me last week I wondered why I hadn't picked him sooner. He got a 1st and 3rd place last week and has been on a roll the past few weeks. My first pick shouldn't come as a surprise, it's Moe.
My second pick is due for a good week. He's in the top 5 in league points and a very solid player. My second pick is Peter.
My third pick is probably one of the most conisistent players in the league. He's always at the final table and he plays the short stack very well. My third pick is Greg.
My fourth pick is someone whom I'm very familiar with. I've tagged him with the nickname of "Luck Box". If that doesn't give him away, I'll give you another hint. He's currently the league's point leader. He's due for a good week and he's probably the most underrated player in the league. My fourth pick is Bill.
My fifth and final pick is someone who is always in the top 10 in points every year. He also had a win last week as well. My fifth pick is Leo.
Ok, recapping the list it goes: Moe, Peter, Greg, Bill and Leo. Looks like a pretty ineteresting group. Good luck to everyone on Friday at Kurt's. I'll post my results later this weekend. 'Til then, later.
X
My first pick did so well for me last week I wondered why I hadn't picked him sooner. He got a 1st and 3rd place last week and has been on a roll the past few weeks. My first pick shouldn't come as a surprise, it's Moe.
My second pick is due for a good week. He's in the top 5 in league points and a very solid player. My second pick is Peter.
My third pick is probably one of the most conisistent players in the league. He's always at the final table and he plays the short stack very well. My third pick is Greg.
My fourth pick is someone whom I'm very familiar with. I've tagged him with the nickname of "Luck Box". If that doesn't give him away, I'll give you another hint. He's currently the league's point leader. He's due for a good week and he's probably the most underrated player in the league. My fourth pick is Bill.
My fifth and final pick is someone who is always in the top 10 in points every year. He also had a win last week as well. My fifth pick is Leo.
Ok, recapping the list it goes: Moe, Peter, Greg, Bill and Leo. Looks like a pretty ineteresting group. Good luck to everyone on Friday at Kurt's. I'll post my results later this weekend. 'Til then, later.
X
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Off Week Poker...
Hello once again, everybody! Hope everyone enjoyed their Friday night, I know I did. Last night was the first night we played at Jim's house. I must say that it was a very nicely ran tournament. I enjoyed the way the tournament was played and I think we finally worked out the kinks as far as rebuys go. I still feel bad about the hand I knocked Jesse out on though. I had Js - 9s and limped in preflop. There were 3 players including me and I was on the button. The came up Qh-10c-8c. I flopped the nuts and watched Greg bet $600 only to be raised by Jesse all in to about $3200. I was absolutely thrilled when I saw this, because all the betting was done for me. I pretty much knew what Greg had. I had put him on top pair and a pretty good kicker. Either a king or an ace. I was perplexed by Jesse's hand though. I wondered if he was slow rolling pocket aces or kings, or even queens. I also was conerned about some with the club flush draw. No matter what, I had to call Jesse's bet. I also didn't want greg to now I had a made hand and scare him out of the pot with an all in bet, so I just called Jesse's bet of $3200. Greg eventually folded after some debate, but he did make a very good lay down. He ended up having As - Qd and would have had top two pair. The sad thing that still would've been the third best hand. Jesse had pocket 8's and flopped his third 8. If he had pushed all in preflop, I most likely would have folded. I'm sure that Greg would've called him and Jesse would have doubled up. Jesse had about seven outs to win the hand, but nothing popped and he was out in 10th place. We get to the final table and I was one of the big stacks, thanks to that hand with Jesse. At the final table I wasn't really getting much until I got pocket kings. I raised it from $400 to $1200 and Henry who was to my immediate left went all in for $1100 more. Everyone folded, and I had to call for $1100 more. Henry had pocket 10's and I was relieved that I wasn't looking at aces, ace big, or ace rag. The flop came 10c - 8s - Kd. Henry got really unlucky because we both flopped sets. I actullay thought he was ahead when his ten flopped because the 10 was covering the king when the cards were intially turned over. Nothing else came up for Henry and I won a sizeable pot to help sustain me to the money. We got down to the final four and it was me, Niki, Greg and Jim who was the tall stack. Jim had probably a third of the chips on the table at that point and more than a 2 to 1 chip lead on the rest of us. Greg was the short stack with a little over $2000. Niki and I were doing pretty well at that point. I think I had close to $7000 and she had a little more than I did. The hand that busted me was As - 1oc. I was on the button and I raised it to $3000. Niki had folded in front of me and Greg was the small blind. Greg folded and Jim, the huge stack, would probably call with any two cards and he did. the flop came up Qd - 8s - 4h. I tried to steal the pot with a $300 continuation bet and unwittingly commitedmyself to the pot. Jim raised me all in. I think I had about $1300 left, and I was going to be the big blind next for $2000. I called and sure enough Jim had flopped top pair with the queens. The turn came 10h which paired my ten but the river was a blank and just like that, I was out in 4th place. I made $40 and I had a good time. In heinsight, I probably should have checked the flop, but I was disappointed with the way I or Jim played the hand. I just got unlucky and ran into the big stack. After the tournament, we played a cash game and made some money there as well. All in all, it was a very fun night out for me and I'm looking forward to doing again in two weeks. Next up for poker is Kurt's this Friday. I had a very good night this past week and I want to capitalize on my new found momentum. I am still looking for that ellusive 1st win of the season. Hopefully it will happen this Friday. I will post my top 5 for this week on Thursday. 'Til then, later!
X
X
Friday, July 21, 2006
Foxwood's, Cash Tables, and Off Week Poker...
Hi everybody! I've a few things to talk about today, so let's get right to it.
Yesterday was the long awaited trip to Foxwood's for Bill and I. Again, thanks very much to Moe for giving us the ride to and from Foxwood's. If it weren't for Moe , this trip would have probably been just a dream. We ended up picking up Ryan before heading to casino. We ended up getting there at 9am and we immediately got our Wampum cards. I'll tell you, all the commercials on TV about Foxwood's doesn't do it any justice. You've got to see it up close to realize how huge that place really is. You really need a couple of days to see the whole place. Anyways, after getting our Wampum cards, we headed to the poker room to register for the 10 am tournament. The buy-in was $100, $80 for the tournament and $20 for the casino and table fees. Once we were registered, we had about an hour to kill. I was so anxious to play I ended up sitting at $1 - $2 no limit cash table for about 30 minutes. I sat down and the first hand I got was pocket 3's. I limped, hoping to see a cheap flop and three other players limped in as well. The flop came Qs - 3h - Jd. The first two players checked. The third player to my right bet $20. He had to have the top pair. I decided to slow roll him and merely call his bet. The other players folded. The turn was the Jc, and he checked it to me. I knew he didn't have a J in his hand otherwise he would've made a bet. Even if he had the J, I would've raised him because the J on the turn gave me a full house, 3's full J's. I bet $25, hoping to take the pot. Most players say don't bet in that spot but my thought was this, if he had hit a queen or had a pocket pair, I ran the risk of him filling up on the river. After a minute of thinking, he folded. I showed him my hand and man was he pissed. He said he'd playing for 6 hours at the same table and hasn't seen many decent hands. I just sat down and the first hand I get is a full house. I showed my hand for a couple of reasons. The first being that this was my first hand at that table and I wanted them to know I didn't play garbage. Secondly, in the case I wanted to run a bluff, they would see that I was a tight player. I got another set about five hands later against the same player and took another chunk of his stack. I got up a few hands later and cashed out about $35 ahead.
Then it was time for the tournament. I was pretty unsuccessful in the tournament. I didn't make it past the second round of the blinds. I tried to make moves early, but I kept missing my flop. I finally saw pocket 9's and went all in only to run up against pocket queens. That was it for me in the tournament. I hit the cash tables for a couple hours after that. I ended up walking out of Foxwood's about $36 ahead. Not bad considering I spent $100 on the tournament.
Tonight is Off Week Poker and I am gonna be there. I'll post my results later tonight or tomorrow depending on how I feel. Later!
X
Yesterday was the long awaited trip to Foxwood's for Bill and I. Again, thanks very much to Moe for giving us the ride to and from Foxwood's. If it weren't for Moe , this trip would have probably been just a dream. We ended up picking up Ryan before heading to casino. We ended up getting there at 9am and we immediately got our Wampum cards. I'll tell you, all the commercials on TV about Foxwood's doesn't do it any justice. You've got to see it up close to realize how huge that place really is. You really need a couple of days to see the whole place. Anyways, after getting our Wampum cards, we headed to the poker room to register for the 10 am tournament. The buy-in was $100, $80 for the tournament and $20 for the casino and table fees. Once we were registered, we had about an hour to kill. I was so anxious to play I ended up sitting at $1 - $2 no limit cash table for about 30 minutes. I sat down and the first hand I got was pocket 3's. I limped, hoping to see a cheap flop and three other players limped in as well. The flop came Qs - 3h - Jd. The first two players checked. The third player to my right bet $20. He had to have the top pair. I decided to slow roll him and merely call his bet. The other players folded. The turn was the Jc, and he checked it to me. I knew he didn't have a J in his hand otherwise he would've made a bet. Even if he had the J, I would've raised him because the J on the turn gave me a full house, 3's full J's. I bet $25, hoping to take the pot. Most players say don't bet in that spot but my thought was this, if he had hit a queen or had a pocket pair, I ran the risk of him filling up on the river. After a minute of thinking, he folded. I showed him my hand and man was he pissed. He said he'd playing for 6 hours at the same table and hasn't seen many decent hands. I just sat down and the first hand I get is a full house. I showed my hand for a couple of reasons. The first being that this was my first hand at that table and I wanted them to know I didn't play garbage. Secondly, in the case I wanted to run a bluff, they would see that I was a tight player. I got another set about five hands later against the same player and took another chunk of his stack. I got up a few hands later and cashed out about $35 ahead.
Then it was time for the tournament. I was pretty unsuccessful in the tournament. I didn't make it past the second round of the blinds. I tried to make moves early, but I kept missing my flop. I finally saw pocket 9's and went all in only to run up against pocket queens. That was it for me in the tournament. I hit the cash tables for a couple hours after that. I ended up walking out of Foxwood's about $36 ahead. Not bad considering I spent $100 on the tournament.
Tonight is Off Week Poker and I am gonna be there. I'll post my results later tonight or tomorrow depending on how I feel. Later!
X
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Foxwood's, prepare to be X Bombed!!!
Welcome again to my blog. The Foxwood's trip is a little more than 12 hours away and I'm already feelin' the itch to kick some butt on the felt. I must admit, I'm a little nervous as well, this being the first trip to a casino where I actually gamble. The last time I went to a casino was for a show, and I think I was only 20. I can't wait to see the inside of Foxwood's, I hear it looks awesome. I hope I do well as this is the biggest tournament I've been a part of. Although the last big tournament I took part in, I had some pretty good results. I think it was 39 or 40 people or so, and I came in 3rd. I'll post how I did later on tomorrow night. Until then, have a good one evrybody!
X
X
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Points, oh my god, I got points!!!!!
Hi all. I hope everyone is doing well on this hot & steamy Saturday. As you can see from the title, I had a pretty successful night at Kurt's. In the first game, I rebounded from a short stack to finish third, my highest finish this season. The second game wasn't as good for me, but I finished 8th and collected some much needed points. I started the night about five points from being 25th and being on the brink of not getting to the end of the year tournament. After last night, I have now broken into the top 20 in 18th place overall. Not a bad night at all. Hopefully, I can build on last night and start getting some momentum in the latter half of the season.
In other news, most of my top 5 did pretty well last night. The only exceptions were Jim, Henry, and Ryan, who all didn't score a point. My biggest disappointment was Ryan, who didn't even make to the first table merge in each game. Jim just got unlucky for the most part. That means that both Jim and Ryan will not be in my top 5 for the July 28th tournament. I can't rank on Kurt, who finished 4th in the first game. He did score some points for me, which was a vast improvement from last week's bagel. The all star of my top 5 has to be Moe. he kicked some serious butt in the first game, finishing first. The second game he finished third, which helped boost him into the top 5 in points for the year.
Finally, I'm planning on doing a Foxwood's trip this Thursday, the 20th of July. As of right now, we have 5 people confirmed. They are me, Bill, Moe, Ryan, and my other roomate Mike. There are some people who are strong possibilities as well. It should be a good time. We're going to play the morning tournament and after have some lunch and probably do a cash game. If anyone is interested in going that I haven't spoken to, feel free to post on this blog or you can e-mail me at croy51x@aol.com. Alright, I'm done for now. Have a good weekend everybody!
X
In other news, most of my top 5 did pretty well last night. The only exceptions were Jim, Henry, and Ryan, who all didn't score a point. My biggest disappointment was Ryan, who didn't even make to the first table merge in each game. Jim just got unlucky for the most part. That means that both Jim and Ryan will not be in my top 5 for the July 28th tournament. I can't rank on Kurt, who finished 4th in the first game. He did score some points for me, which was a vast improvement from last week's bagel. The all star of my top 5 has to be Moe. he kicked some serious butt in the first game, finishing first. The second game he finished third, which helped boost him into the top 5 in points for the year.
Finally, I'm planning on doing a Foxwood's trip this Thursday, the 20th of July. As of right now, we have 5 people confirmed. They are me, Bill, Moe, Ryan, and my other roomate Mike. There are some people who are strong possibilities as well. It should be a good time. We're going to play the morning tournament and after have some lunch and probably do a cash game. If anyone is interested in going that I haven't spoken to, feel free to post on this blog or you can e-mail me at croy51x@aol.com. Alright, I'm done for now. Have a good weekend everybody!
X
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Top 5
Hey all, it's time once again to choose for this week's poker league game. I have to say that I'm still greatly disappointed in all of you whom I picked last week that didn't do well, (Kurt). Just in case, I've devised a system to keep all of you busted picks in check. If you fail to score a point, I won't pick you the following week. Choke on them apples! Alright let's get into it shall we.
My first pick promised me he'd do better and damn well better do just that if he knows what's good for him. I have a feeling I may regret this decision, but I'll give him another chance. My first pick is Kurt.
My second pick came in second last week in the first game and is a very good player. My second pick is Moe.
My third pick, much like my second pick finished second last week in the second game. My third pick is Ryan.
My fourth pick is a person I've picked nearly every week since he said that I didn't pick him enough. My fourth pick is Jim.
For my fifth and final pick, I'm going to go with a guy who much like me was in the back of the field last week until he won the first game last week. My fifth and final pick is Henry.
So let's recap: 1. Kurt, 2. Moe, 3. Ryan, 4. Jim, 5. Henry. Good luck to all everyone this Friday, and don't let me down this time!
X
My first pick promised me he'd do better and damn well better do just that if he knows what's good for him. I have a feeling I may regret this decision, but I'll give him another chance. My first pick is Kurt.
My second pick came in second last week in the first game and is a very good player. My second pick is Moe.
My third pick, much like my second pick finished second last week in the second game. My third pick is Ryan.
My fourth pick is a person I've picked nearly every week since he said that I didn't pick him enough. My fourth pick is Jim.
For my fifth and final pick, I'm going to go with a guy who much like me was in the back of the field last week until he won the first game last week. My fifth and final pick is Henry.
So let's recap: 1. Kurt, 2. Moe, 3. Ryan, 4. Jim, 5. Henry. Good luck to all everyone this Friday, and don't let me down this time!
X
Saturday, July 08, 2006
I Hate Re-buys....
Hi again everybody. I hope everyone is enjoying this weekend. Last night we had an off week game. About 13 people showed up, which was a pretty decent turnout for an off week game. I enjoyed the game for the most part. I did pretty well getting, 4th place and $45 dollars. I ended up making a deal with Henry to split our winnings. We did things a little differently last night as far as the basic structure was concerned. We did $20 buy ins and 20 minute blinds with unlimited re-buys for the 1st hour. After the 1st hour there was an optional add on for $10 more. The reason why I now hate re-buys is because if you're in a tournament setting, and you get busted, you should be out. At my table, there were 6 re-buys between 3 people. Kurt and I discussed this after the tournament had ended. He and I both agreed that having unlimited re-buys in a tournament setting degrades the level of play. Anyways, after the re-buy stage had ended, we still had all 13 original players. What was impressive is that we didn't drop any players for over an hour. After the 1st player went though, things started to pick up as more players started dropping. When we got to six players left, things once again slowed down. I think because everyone, (including myself), realized how close we were to making it to the money, the play started to really tighten up. We ended up playing six handed for about an hour before Henry got busted. Another 25 to 30 minutes went by before Luca busted out in 5th place. So I was in the money. Here were my opponents: Jack, Mohamad, and George. I had a pretty decent stack and I was getting awful cards so I wasn't losing all that much money. That is until I got A-Q suited in the big blind. I doubled the BB from $2000 to $4000. George, who at that point only had $6000 left, went all in. I called and that left me with a little less than $3000. I flopped a straight draw but nothing materialized after the flop. I busted out a few hands later after the blinds ate up most of my reamaining stack. I asked Kurt and Henry this question and I will pose it to anyone who reads this blog. Did I play that hand wrong? Was there anything I should've done differently? Feel free to post your answers if you like. Ok I'm done for now. Later.
X
X
Thursday, July 06, 2006
One Bad Night....
Hello again. It's been a while since I posted and I want to put your minds at rest... no I'm not dead or in jail. I'm sure everyone was soooo concerned, lol. Anyways, just to recap, last week at Kurt's was an absolute, total disaster. I failed to score points yet again, I and was out of both tournaments early. I played crappy and got short-stacked quickly. In the first game I think I played 5 or 6 hands before getting busted. The hands I lost the majority of my money on two hands I should've got away from. The first was against Keith in which the turn card that gave me two pair and a straight draw made Keith's hand. I kind of knew what he had, but for some reason I couldn't lay my hand down. After losing that hand, I was left with about $160. Keith played it well and he should've won the hand. The next hand, Marc finished me off, what a jerk... just kidding. The next game, I was doing alright until a hand against Bob P. I lost about half my stack to him. A short time later, I found myself in a hand against Kurt who had pocket Aces. He was short-stacked and went all-in. I had him barely covered with my Q-10 of diamonds. After the flop, I had an up and down straight draw, a flush draw, and a straight draw. Unfortunately for me, none of my outs popped and I was left crippled yet again. Next hand, I had pocket deuces and I went in for the rest of my tiny stack and got crushed by Jim. Two hands I couldn't get away from, two blown chances, zero points. I think I can call last Friday a complete failure of huge proportions. Tomorrow I get to see if I can redeem myself at an off week game at Greg's. Hopefully, I do well like I did last time. If not, you'll be hearing all about it.
This brings me to next point. The fabulous five names that I picked this past week did oh so horribly. Out of the five names I picked, only two of them got points, and only one of them made it to heads up play. Nice job guys! Way to screw me yet again. Kurt you should be ashamed of yourself. I mean, who loses to Bill when you had him read perfectly?! And Bill what in the hell are you doing taking out one of my top 5. You heartless bastard!!!!!! LOL, just kidding, but not really. Ok, I've pissed and moaned enough for one day. Now it's Corona time!
X
This brings me to next point. The fabulous five names that I picked this past week did oh so horribly. Out of the five names I picked, only two of them got points, and only one of them made it to heads up play. Nice job guys! Way to screw me yet again. Kurt you should be ashamed of yourself. I mean, who loses to Bill when you had him read perfectly?! And Bill what in the hell are you doing taking out one of my top 5. You heartless bastard!!!!!! LOL, just kidding, but not really. Ok, I've pissed and moaned enough for one day. Now it's Corona time!
X
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Hello all! It's the day before poker and that means that it is time for me to pick my top 5. This week was tough as there are a number of players who I think are going to break out. Just letting you know if you don't get picked this week it's no slight against you. Ok, here goes... My first pick was in my opinion one of the best players in the league. He's had a couple rough games, but I'm figuring he's due for a huge night. My first pick is none other than Jim. Onto my next pick. This player is at the top of the leaderboard and is a really good player. My second pick is Ryan. This is where it started to get difficult. So many good players, so few picks. This next player is again in my top 5 best players list and is beginning to build some steam. My third pick is the host of Kurt's No-Limit Kasino, Kurt. With my fourth pick I went with probably one of the most underrated players in the league. This player has made 45 out of 62 final tables and is a very consistent player. My fourth pick is Greg. My last one was really tough. I decided to pick a guy who's on a very good roll. My final pick is Jack. Ok, to recap my picks are: Jim, Ryan, Kurt, Greg, & Jack. Good luck to everybody tomorrow night and you'll here from me soon.
X
X
Monday, June 26, 2006
X's Top 5
Hi all, I'm back again. I figured for my second post I'd do something a little fun. Keeping that in mind, I've created X's Top 5 list. Since most of you reading are involved with Kurt's No-Limit Kasino in some form or fashion, this is geared to you. I'll explain... about 3 months ago, Kurt came up with an idea us to have a little more fun during poker weeks. Each Thursday before poker, Bill, Kurt and I would pick five people who we'd think would do the best that night. After poker, we'd compare who did the best that night and add up all the points everybody accumulated to figure out who won that week.
So now that we've all learned where I got this idea from, here's what I'm going to do. Each week, I'll pick a topic and choose 5 people from Kurt's No-Limit Kasino who I think are the best at that certain topic. All clear? Ok, this week's topic is this... Who is the 5 best players we have in Kurt's No-Limit Kasino?
Here are my choices:
#5 - Jack
#4 - Ryan
#3 - Moe
#2 - Jim
#1 - Kurt
If you disagree with my picks, feel free to post your own top 5 or post any comments you may have. That's it for today. Later everybody!
X
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Coming Out Swinging
Ok, I promised Ryan and Bill that I'd make a post so here goes. As you can see, I think highly of myself, although I'm not really sure why. Obviously I am the greatest poker player that ever lived. LOL, I can't even keep a straight face while making that comment. I'm not even in Kurt, Ryan, and Bill's top 10. Here's the deal, about a year and half or so ago, I was the point leader in Kurt's No-Limit Kasino. Since then, I've fallen on some hard times as far as points go. I'm not sure why I've fallen as far as I have. I am currently about 22nd in this year's standings and I'm nowhere near the leaders. Maybe it's because I've switched up my game from a reckless agressive player to a more tight agressive player. Before, I would play junk hands like 5-7 offsuit or Q-5 offsuit and I'd get lucky by hitting my flop. Now I fold away a lot of mediocre hands which puts a lot more pressure on getting my money in with premium hands. I can say confidently that I'm a much better player than I was a year ago. Only problem is that hasn't really shown up in this year's standings. I've made quite a lot of good reads and played well for the most part, but it just doesn't seem to have payed off just yet. I'm not sure if it's an issue with my confidence or that I'm just really unlucky. Either way, it would be nice to get at least one win under my belt this year. That would be an awesome boost to my confidence and it would legitimize all the work I've put in trying to change the way I play. It's funny that I say that because the person I credit with helping me change my game is Jim. It all goes back to about a year ago. Kurt and Jim were talking one night and I happened to come up in the conversation. I guess Jim had said I was an awful player or something to that sort. He in actuality was absolutely correct. Kurt later gave me the gist of the conversation and that really opened my eyes to how bad I was really playing. I ended up taking a hiatus last year soon after. I worked and practiced my game by playing online and in small tournaments around where I live. I came back for the tournament of champions last year and I tried to apply my new strategy. I played really well with a short stack until running into Kurt who had pocket aces. Since then I've been hot and cold. I won $325 in a big tournament in East Providence by coming in 3rd out 40 people. I've also had some really horrible nights where all my reads were wrong and was out early because of it. I guess I can chalk that up to a learning curve or something like that. This past Friday night we had a couple of non-league tournaments. The first game was horrible and I couldn't get any cards to make any moves. I ended up finishing that game real early. The 2nd game however, I did really well. I came in 2nd place thanks in large part to a huge pot in which I took $700+ from Leo and Bill, (sorry again Bill), after I had flopped the nuts. Also in large part on picking up pocket aces in back to back hands eliminating Moe and Greg. Hopefully I can follow up this week in our usual league game. I'll post my results after the game. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you later.
X
Ok, I promised Ryan and Bill that I'd make a post so here goes. As you can see, I think highly of myself, although I'm not really sure why. Obviously I am the greatest poker player that ever lived. LOL, I can't even keep a straight face while making that comment. I'm not even in Kurt, Ryan, and Bill's top 10. Here's the deal, about a year and half or so ago, I was the point leader in Kurt's No-Limit Kasino. Since then, I've fallen on some hard times as far as points go. I'm not sure why I've fallen as far as I have. I am currently about 22nd in this year's standings and I'm nowhere near the leaders. Maybe it's because I've switched up my game from a reckless agressive player to a more tight agressive player. Before, I would play junk hands like 5-7 offsuit or Q-5 offsuit and I'd get lucky by hitting my flop. Now I fold away a lot of mediocre hands which puts a lot more pressure on getting my money in with premium hands. I can say confidently that I'm a much better player than I was a year ago. Only problem is that hasn't really shown up in this year's standings. I've made quite a lot of good reads and played well for the most part, but it just doesn't seem to have payed off just yet. I'm not sure if it's an issue with my confidence or that I'm just really unlucky. Either way, it would be nice to get at least one win under my belt this year. That would be an awesome boost to my confidence and it would legitimize all the work I've put in trying to change the way I play. It's funny that I say that because the person I credit with helping me change my game is Jim. It all goes back to about a year ago. Kurt and Jim were talking one night and I happened to come up in the conversation. I guess Jim had said I was an awful player or something to that sort. He in actuality was absolutely correct. Kurt later gave me the gist of the conversation and that really opened my eyes to how bad I was really playing. I ended up taking a hiatus last year soon after. I worked and practiced my game by playing online and in small tournaments around where I live. I came back for the tournament of champions last year and I tried to apply my new strategy. I played really well with a short stack until running into Kurt who had pocket aces. Since then I've been hot and cold. I won $325 in a big tournament in East Providence by coming in 3rd out 40 people. I've also had some really horrible nights where all my reads were wrong and was out early because of it. I guess I can chalk that up to a learning curve or something like that. This past Friday night we had a couple of non-league tournaments. The first game was horrible and I couldn't get any cards to make any moves. I ended up finishing that game real early. The 2nd game however, I did really well. I came in 2nd place thanks in large part to a huge pot in which I took $700+ from Leo and Bill, (sorry again Bill), after I had flopped the nuts. Also in large part on picking up pocket aces in back to back hands eliminating Moe and Greg. Hopefully I can follow up this week in our usual league game. I'll post my results after the game. Thanks for reading and I'll talk to you later.
X
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